wfn.org | ABC/USA FUNDS AID MONTANA FIRE VICTIMS

[RICH.SCHRAMM@ecunet.org]

AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS SERVICE 
Office of Communication  
American Baptist Churches USA 
P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851 
Phone: (610)768-2077 / Fax: (610)768-2320 
Web: www.abc-usa.org
Richard W. Schramm, Director 
 E-mail: richard.schramm@abc-usa.org

ABC/USA FUNDS SENT TO AID FOREST FIRE VICTIMS
 
by Fran Homer, American Baptist National Ministries
 As residents of Montana rebuild homes lost in the 
forest fires of summer 2000, the Direct Human Services 
Office of National Ministries, in conjunction with the 
American Baptist World Relief Office, has released $10,000 
in disaster response funds to the American Baptist Churches 
of the Northwest.
 This year's fire season was the worst in a half-
century.  Montana saw the most damage with more than 200,000 
charred acres in Montana's Bitterroot Valley alone.
 The Rev. Steve Millar, pastor of the United 
Methodist/American Baptist Federated Church in Hamilton, 
Mont., serves on an ecumenical committee working in the 
disaster relief efforts. The committee will respond to 
requests for losses that are not met by homeowners insurance 
or FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Assistance) funds.
 "Progress is slow as folks wait to hear from their 
insurance companies and find out how much FEMA will 
provide," Millar said, noting that about 180 homes on the 
fringes of the forest were destroyed by fire.  "The U.S. 
Forest Service and volunteer firefighters did a great job of 
protecting other homes.  One fire burned right up to the 
edge of Hamilton and a number of families had to be 
evacuated."
 Smoke from the fires all through July, August and into 
September made breathing difficult and caused depressing 
darkness, according to Millar.  "The first Sunday after the 
smoke cleared," he noted, "I thanked God for fresh air and 
said I would never complain about the weather again."
 Ken George, National Ministries' director of Direct 
Human Services, thanked American Baptists for their generous 
contributions to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering: 
"When a disaster like this happens, families lose more than 
their houses.  Their lives are disrupted or 'put on hold.'  
Because of One Great Hour of Sharing we are able to respond 
in Christ's name."

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