Children’s Disaster Services team to respond to Lightning Fire in California

By Carolyn Neher

Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) will be serving on Sunday, Sept. 14, with a team of three volunteers providing care and a calm presence for young children at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds Local Assistance Center (LAC) in Sonoma, Calif. The LAC has been organized in response to the Lightning Fire Complex.

CDS associate director Carolyn Neher contacted the California Emergency Services Coordinator to offer care for the children of families seeking assistance with recovery from the fire.

The Lightning Fire Complex began on Sept. 2 when lightning struck several locations in Tuolumne County, Calif., causing wildfires. As of Sept. 12, the fires were 99 percent contained, having burned 13,766 acres or approximately 21 square miles. Fortunately, no lives were lost.

— Carolyn Neher is associate director of Children’s Disaster Services, a ministry within Brethren Disaster Ministries. Find out more and help financially support the ministry of CDS by going to www.brethren.org/cds