LAVERNE, Okla. — Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief (DR) is in the second day of “Quick Response” feeding and support to first responders of wildfires sweeping across the northwest portion of the state. 

Sam Porter, DR state director, reported that one feeding unit is just west of Fort Supply, an area that sustained significant amounts of damage. A larger unit will be at First Baptist Church of Laverne tomorrow, March 9.

“DR has been asked to set up a larger mobile kitchen to feed in partnership with the Salvation Army, Red Cross to prepare more than 600 firemen two meals per day, and it could ramp up to 800,” Porter said. “The food will be delivered to five different locations because of the vast area of the fires including Arnett, Buffalo, Beaver and Laverne.”

According to reports received by Porter, 400,000 acres have already burned as well as many miles of farms and ranches. Six deaths have been reported, and many ranchers’ livestock have died as well.

Forestry Services in the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry issued a statement saying, “The current forecast calls for the highest wind gusts to be east of Interstate 35 and north of US 412. Expect any fire that starts today to burn very intensely with rapid rates of spread.”

“The ‘Quick Response’ feeding unit will remain on the job, moving about the area to serve the fire fighters on the front line in Harper and Beaver counties. The meals at staging areas are for first responders coming in at shift changes. We plan to bring the mobile kitchen out of Elk City to serve this response. We will also activate a shower unit,” Porter said.

For information and updates, visit www.okdisasterhelp.org