RNRN has been closely monitoring the devastating wild fires across California and the west. The most recent of these fires, the Erskine fire, is still burning near Lake Isabella in Kern County, CA  and is the largest and most destructive fire yet this year at more than 70 square miles (45,000 acres) burned, two lives tragically lost and 150 homes destroyed. Many residents are still under evacuation orders. In the current fire season, we have already witnessed fires across the state that have scorched almost 100,000 acres and drawn more than 5,000 firefighters to the effort.

Our thoughts are with those who have lost homes and family members in the devastation. Whenever a wildfire occurs, RNRN staff begin to immediately monitor for any medical volunteer needs. Due to the critical and often changing nature of the fire fighting efforts, it is important to remember that the areas must remain clear for first responders and fire teams to do their work. Evacuations are often necessary but generally (and fortunately) are not harbingers of acute medical emergencies – often, the best immediate support that can be provided is through targeted donations and supply drives that address particular needs of a specific community.

If medical aid to affected areas does become needed, it is often to provide emotional and psychological caring and support to those who have lost family members, pets, or homes. In these cases, RNRN staff will work closely with local agencies already engaged in the effort to make sure that our deployments meet the specific needs of the affected community, and ensure we are not duplicating or replacing the work that can best be provided through local and/or public agencies.

We thank all our members for your thoughts and willingness to help as needs arise. We know that we may see more devastating fires in the months and years ahead through the changes wrought both by the effects of California’s historic drought, as well as the longer term consequences of human-caused climate crisis bringing drier and hotter conditions to many areas across the country and worldwide.

We will be actively monitoring and advising our volunteers as deployment needs are identified. In the meantime, please stay safe and follow wild fire safety guidelines, for suggestions and resources click here.

Thank you as always for being willing to respond, when and where you are needed most. We are grateful for all of our skilled and compassionate volunteers.

Best,

RN Response Network

IMPORTANT UPDATE ON THE ERSKINE FIRE FROM 6/29/2016:

The Erskine Fire was burning 46,684 acres Tuesday night with 60 percent containment. Fire officials predicted full containment by Thursday, June 30th.

All evacuation orders have been lifted. A transition center is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Wallace Middle School, 3240 Erskine Creek Road in Lake Isabella. A call center was set up to help fire victims at 661-873-2660, operating 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Kern County health officials are warning residents of the hazards of digging through debris and ash. Synthetic and hazardous materials, such as gasoline, cleaning products, pesticides and other household chemicals, could be in the rubble.