BRUNSWICK

When not working as a mobile crisis worker for Sweetser, Brunswick Red Cross volunteer Carolyn Angeline is helping people facing disaster — this time at the Blue Cut wildfire in San Bernadino, California.

Angeline said the normal deployment for volunteers is about two weeks, however, since crews have begun to take control of the fire, she said she may be home by the weekend. That, she says, doesn’t minimize the damage already done.

Justin Burkhardt of the American Red Cross said approximately 100 homes and 200 outbuildings have been destroyed in the fire that covered more than 36,000 acres.

Angeline said that this is her first deployment and she has been able to put all of her training to good use, from sheltering and providing meals, to bringing supplies to communities as evacuees are allowed to return and finally, to help provide financial aid for those affected.

“We pull up with our rescue vehicles and within minutes, we’ve got cars parked haphazardly all around us — just ‘do you have anything that I can have?’ and they don’t even care what it is,” Angeline said.

Angeline said she was struck by how grateful the people have been that she has assisted. Many had not eaten since being evacuated, Angeline said, as many take their meal from the truck before wandering to the edge of the parking lot to eat.

“One woman brought in a cellphone with pictures. They were told to evacuate and they took a little bit of time to get their stuff together and they headed off down the road and it was like hell opened up,” Angeline said. “She showed us pictures of the flames and black smoke coming toward them.”

Another person she helped was an 80-year-old woman who, Angeline said, could not even begin to grasp what had just happened as the fire swept through and destroyed everything she had.

“We have had people come in and it’s desperately sad to hear their stories and watch what happened — literally running for their lives — the smoke behind them,” Angeline said.

Angeline said faith-based and civic organizations have rallied around the community to support fire victims, helping with things not often though of in a natural disaster, like glasses and medications.

There are other Red Cross volunteers that will move on from Blue Cut to other fires or to aid in the Louisiana floods. The workers give freely of themselves and utilize only donated resources. Despite their nationwide reach, there is no government line item for the Red Cross.

“We definitely need people’s support. That’s how we do this whether it’s Louisiana, California or Indiana where we just had tornadoes. Wherever we go, we’re giving what we’re given,” Angeline said, saying a phrase among the workers is “from the people, for the people.”

Angeline said this work is her passion and she will often share pictures of people walking away with a fresh meal, telling others that it doesn’t matter who they donate to — just do it. Each picture is someone’s donations in action.

Burkhardt said recovering from a disaster can be a confusing, emotionally draining and a complicated process, so Red Cross volunteers will meet one-on-one with people to create recovery plans, navigate paperwork and locate help from other agencies.

“In addition to the immediate relief that was provide early in the disaster, the American Red Cross will be providing longer-term help to people recovering from this wildfire,” Burkhardt said. “Disaster recovery is often measured in months and years, and the Red Cross will be on the ground with mental health teams and spiritual care teams to provide counseling, hope, comfort and oneon one support.”

dmcintire@timesrecord.com