Texas Baptist Men volunteers respond to Oklahoma wildfires

MANNFORD, Okla.—Three Texas Baptist Men teams have been cleaning up lots and helping victims sift through ash in the wake of wildfires that affected more than 300 homes in northeastern Oklahoma.

Texas Baptist Men Disaster Relief volunteers Lewis Cernoch (left) and Tommy Williams (right) from Kauf-Van Baptist Association work with an ash-out and chainsaw team, removing dead trees and debris after a fire swept through the area around Mannford, Okla. (PHOTOS/Courtesy of Duane Bechtold)

The Kauf-Van Baptist Association Unit, Harmony Pittsburg Baptist Association Unit and the Collin Baptist Association Unit—staffed primarily by volunteers from Canyon Lake—are working alongside disaster relief teams from other states. Together, Baptist volunteers are attempting to tackle 150 requests for help in three weeks.

In order to help complete so many tasks so quickly, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, TBM and the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma called for church groups— trained and untrained—who can work under the supervision of trained Baptist volunteers. For more information about volunteering, contact Cookie Slate at VolunteerDR@texasbaptistmen.org or call 972-754-4734.

Many homes affected by the wildfires are completely lost, said Gary Smith, who is coordinating Texas Baptist Men's efforts in Oklahoma. Volunteers largely are separating scrap metal from ash in an effort to begin the clean up process. In some cases, volunteers are sifting through the ash for remnants of people's belongings.

"Mostly, everything is completely ash," Smith said of the devastation.

Smith asked Texas Baptists to pray for the survivors of the fires and for the volunteers who are helping them. The early stages of relief in these situations can be dangerous. In Oklahoma, a TBM team happened upon a live electrical wire. At another house, volunteers discovered a potentially hazardous propane tank.

Fire survivors have welcomed TBM's help, Smith said. Organizers expect the number of project requests to increase this week as people discover help is available.

"They're very thankful," he said. "They're very responsive. They're thrilled to see us."

TBM disaster relief efforts are financed entirely by designated gifts. To give directly to TBM, visit www.texasbaptistmen.org or mail a check to Texas Baptist Men, 5351 Catron, Dallas, 75227. Designate it for Oklahoma relief in the memo line.

Texas Baptist Disaster Recovery—the Baptist General Convention of Texas long-term mission projects following disasters—also is funded entirely by designated gifts. To give through the convention to disaster recovery, visit www.texasbaptists.org/give.