The American Red Cross is Ready for Wildfires, Are You?

Red Cross Disaster Relief van with back doors open and volunteers unloading items from the back.

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Red Cross Disaster Relief van parked next to a moving truck with it's back door open and disaster relief items in the back.

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August 20, 2025

By: Darrell Fuller, Oregon Red Cross Volunteer

The American Red Cross responds to about 65,000 disasters every year and provides shelter, food, and hope for those impacted by severe weather events and other emergencies. An effective response requires preparation.

Every year the Red Cross works to preposition Red Cross Disaster Responders and emergency supplies in advance of disasters so that shelters can be opened immediately in the aftermath. You, too, can be prepared to respond to a local disaster.

Now that wildfires have become more frequent and more severe, states are taking a page from that playbook on the West Coast. Red Cross Disaster Responders and supplies are being prepositioned in Oregon, Washington, and across the West so that the Red Cross is better equipped to respond quickly to wildfires.

American Red Cross Disaster Relief trailer in a parking lot.

Oregon has 51 Red Cross trailers each with enough supplies to open a shelter for 50 people. The Red Cross also has two shelter strike teams on immediate stand by – ready to leave within minutes of a call. One team is stationed in Bend, the other in Medford.

The Red Cross has also arranged for a storage space in Salem where disaster response supplies are being gathered. The supplies will not only help the Red Cross respond more quickly when opening a shelter, but it will also hold supplies the Red Cross distributes after wildfires to help those impacted clean up after the disaster.

American Red Cross Disaster Relief moving truck being unloaded by volunteers.

In the aftermath of wildfires, the Red Cross supplies “clean up kits,” including shovels, rakes, gloves and tarps. When allowed to safely return home, residents can look for anything that survived the fire. These can be keys, jewelry, precious metals, China, and other family heirlooms and mementos left behind when people are required to evacuate without notice.

If you live in an area susceptible to wildfire, the Red Cross strongly recommends locating irreplaceable items and boxing them up so they can go with you in case of an evacuation notice. You can learn more about being prepared at the Red Cross website here. The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (ODEM) offers this excellent check list.

The Red Cross is preparing, so it can respond to wildfires. Are you Red Cross Ready? It is never too early to start preparing, but it can be too late! Learn more and start being Red Cross Ready today!