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Red Cross officials ready to open Mile Marker 14 fire evacuee shelter in Idaho City

Posted at 3:52 PM, Jul 20, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-20 17:52:19-04

Red Cross volunteers are on standby to open a shelter for evacuees of the Mile Marker 14 Fire in Idaho City, if needed.

“The Red Cross is closely monitoring conditions in Idaho City, and we are ready to provide immediate disaster-related relief to anyone in the area who is affected by the wildfires,” said Nicole Sirak-Irwin, CEO of the American Red Cross of Idaho and Montana. “We are mobilizing our trained volunteers in the area and prepositioning to respond to this emergency.”

Wildfire evacuees can have meals, take showers and/or spend the night at Red Cross shelters free of charge. If possible, shelter guests should bring their own bedding, a change of clothes, towels, toiletries, medications, toys for children and anything else they need to be comfortable at our shelter.

All shelter registration information is confidential.

While Red Cross shelters allow service animals, officials say they they cannot accept pets or livestock.

People living in the fire-impacted areas are urged to contact their county officials for up-to-date information on sheltering displaced animals. 

“The Red Cross urges everyone to evacuate as soon as an evacuation order is issued by local officials,” Sirak-Irwin stated. “When people stay behind, they are putting their own lives and the lives of first responders in danger.”

People can download free apps that put Red Cross advice and checklists at everybody’s fingertips. They are available for direct download from the Apple or Google Play for Android app stores or at http://www.redcross.org/prepare/mobile-apps.

The Red Cross Emergency App and Wildfire App will provide a checklist of items people need to include in your emergency kit. It also has helpful tools like an alarm, a strobe light and flashlight and a quick way to let loved ones know you are safe.
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The Red Cross Wildfire App also has information specific to wildfires or tell you where our open shelters are.