Red Cross Seeks Volunteers to Work in Fire Areas

The Santa Monica Red Cross is looking for additional volunteers to answer the call for disaster workers at locations in and around the Malibu (Canyon) fire, as well as at other regional brush fires currently burning across Southern California.

Volunteers are needed to work at fire areas in numerous Southern California locations -- Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San Diego counties -- as well as to help support local Red Cross chapters in a variety of functions.

If you've had no formal American Red Cross disaster training, two three-hour classes are required to volunteer in a disaster operation. They are Mass Care and Shelter Operations. Classes will be held Thursday, October 25; Tuesday, Saturday, October 27; Tuesday, October 30 and Thursday, Nov 1st at the Santa Monica chapter at 1450 11th Street in Santa Monica.

Persons interested in taking these classes and qualifying to work at the Southern California Fires and other disasters can call the chapter at 310-394-6571 for the class schedules, times, registration and other information.

Persons who have taken these classes previously. such as after Hurricane Katrina, are still eligible for "disaster duty." Those wishing to go out to a brush fire location and volunteer should call the Santa Monica chapter at 310-394-3773. Ask to sign up for disaster duty.

Those wishing to make financial donations or just "help out" can call the Santa Monica Red Cross for information during weekday business hours as well as on Saturday.

Santa Monica Red Cross volunteers already active in fire disaster

Spurred by high winds and extremely dry conditions, multiple wildfires are still burning throughout Southern California. While all counties, from Santa Barbara to San Diego are affected, the principal danger spots at the moment are still in Los Angeles and San Diego counties.

In Los Angeles County, the Greater Los Angeles chapter of the American Red Cross responded to several fires. As the lead chapter, The American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles supported shelters for fire victims and canteen service for firefighters and public safety people in Malibu and numerous other locations. The Santa Monica chapter is assisting the Greater Los Angeles Red Cross along with the Glendale, San Gabriel/Pomona Valley, Arcadia, Greater Long Beach and Ventura chapters.

Volunteers from Santa Monica who worked the brush fires in Malibu include Cory Russell, Kate Mottola, Karen Donoho, Mike Mandini, P.J. Palmer and Pete Picanso who were all assigned to the now closed canteen service for firefighters based in the Malibu Civic Center.

The American Red Cross of Santa Monica is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit corporation that is 100 percent dependent on public donations to support its mission of disaster preparedness, First Aid and CPR training, blood services and youth programs. The Santa Monica chapter is located at 1450 11th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401, Phone: 310-394-3773 or online at www.redcrossofsantamonica.org