I don’t usually write posts like this. In general, I try to keep my blog upbeat and a place for folks to find comfort. However, while the hurricanes Harvey and Irma are hitting in the south, the areas I call home are burning up. This post isn’t supposed to be one about who has it worse. The truth is, our country is really getting slammed right now with mother nature left and right. Be that as it may, because I am in the midst of horrible smoke here that has made our area’s air hazardous (it’s so bad we are told not to go outside unless we absolutely have to because we are breathing in ash), these fires hit very close to home.
This picture below, I took yesterday at 2 in the afternoon. There is no filter use or any editing. This is how bad the air is here and we aren’t affected nearly as bad as other areas.
Statistics on the fires this year:
On September 7, 2017, there are currently 76 active LARGE fires burning over 1 million acres currently. 21 of those are in Montana, 18 are in Oregon and 8 are in Washington. You can check the current status of wildfires on the National interagency Fire Center.
Through talking with others and getting the word out about the fires, I was asked how people in other areas can help. I wanted to write a post so those that wanted to, can do just that. Please note that in general, cash donations help the most when disasters like this strike. I understand that this can feel like you aren’t doing enough, but these kinds of donations are needed the most to help the most people so I will be listing these first.
How to Help Those Affected By Wildfires
Cash Donations:
For the Lodgepole fire complex, in Garfield county, Northern AG has some great ways to help locally or places you can send money. There has also been a Fundly set up for this fire.
To donate to funds to help those who have lost a family member who was a wildland fire fighter (there have been 2 lives lost on Montana), donate to and check out the Wildland Firefighters Foundation.
Missoula county United Way has set up the Seely Lake/ Rice Ridge Fire Fund to help those who are affected. You can also donate to the Lolo Peak fire fund to help evacuees.
406 Family Aid Foundation is accepting donations to help with fire evacuees on an individual basis.
Consider donating to the Red Cross of Montana, Oregon, or Washington.
There are two verified GO-FUND-MEs for Washington and Oregon you can donate to.
Non- Cash Ways to Donate:
To help with evacuees that need with their pets/animals help due to displacement, contact the Western Montana Humane Society and ask what they need.
UCC is a temporary shelter in Missoula, Montana for evacuees. Contact them to find out how to help with donations.
Network for Good has a resource for places to donate.
Please DO NOT just send non-cash donations anywhere without calling organizations FIRST. This is well-meaning, but it can actually create a further burden to store it and get it out to people in times of natural disaster.
When the fires are under control, and in the spring, reforestation projects will happen. If you want to help with this, consider donating to American Forests who aids in planting new trees.
This is an ongoing resource, so if you know of any reliable and verifiable resource for those affected by the wildfires in the Pacific Northwest, Please email me at borntimestwo@gmail.com or comment here and I will be happy to add them here.
