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Storms Trigger High Winds, Wildfires Across West
Written by Mason Anderson, Staff Writer, RedCross.org
July 15, 2002 —
The American Red Cross is assisting hundreds of affected residents in Arizona, California, Colorado and Oregon after a series of severe storms and wildfires broke out across the West over the weekend, destroying at least a dozen homes and damaging some 30 others.
On Saturday (July 13), a severe storm system tore through northwest Arizona, spawning a cluster of high-energy winds known as “microbursts”. The fierce winds raked across residential and businesses in Kingman, destroying 12 homes and damaging another 35.
Dry conditions have left much of the West prone to lightning triggered wildfires.
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Just south of Kingman, the thunderstorm triggered large amounts of lightning, which in turn ignited a 200 acre wildfire known as the “Wild Cow” fire. The Red Cross set up two shelters in Kingman and nearby Yucca for some 400 residents evacuated from two subdivisions while three Emergency Response Vehicles delivered food and water to recovery crews.
The “Wild Cow” fire is the largest of more than a dozen small blazes burning in the Kingman area.
Meanwhile, in southeast Arizona, a 2,200-acre wildfire ignited Friday (July 12) in the Coronado National Forest near Oracle, some 30 miles north of Tuscon. The Red Cross opened a shelter in the Mountain View High School for 180 affected residents, including campers evacuated from a local YMCA camp.
More than 1,000 homes and several schools remain threatened by the “Oracle Hill Fire,” which was at zero percent containment as of Monday morning.
In northeast California, a severe thunderstorm struck Quincy, again causing a series of microbursts that whipped through the town, destroying 18 homes and damaging 25 others. The Red Cross responded immediately, providing shelter, mental heath counseling and initial emergency needs to affected residents.
In southwest Colorado, 6,000 acres of land have been scorched by a wildfire tearing through Burn Canyon, just 5 miles south of Norwood. The Red Cross opened a shelter at the Norwood High School for more than a dozen evacuated households.
No damages to homes or structures have yet been caused by the blaze which was triggered by lightening.
In north-central Oregon, a 13,000-acre wildfire tearing through Deschutes National Forest prompted the evacuation of more than 200 homes in the Three Rivers Area Saturday (July 13). The Red Cross opened a shelter at the Madras Middle School and is providing mental health counseling to residents.
Already, more than a dozen structures have been scorched by the wildfire which is believed to have been caused by lightning.
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. The Red Cross also supplies nearly half of the nation's lifesaving blood. This, too, is made possible by generous voluntary donations. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. You can make a secure online credit card donation or call 1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Or you may send your donation to your local Red Cross or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013. To donate blood, please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543), or contact your local Red Cross to find out about upcoming blood drives.
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