Montana now leads the nation in the number of large wildfires burning, surpassing Utah and Colorado. The Dahl Fire, south of Roundup, as of Monday morning July 2, was 75 percent contained, having consumed 73 homes and 150 outbuildings.
The Ash Creek Fire, on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation has grown to 170,000 acres and is 40 percent contained. Highway 212 remains closed to through traffic from Lame Deer to the junction of Highway 59 near Broadus. Power is still out on parts of the reservation. At least 16 homes and 22 other buildings have been destroyed by the fire.
Requests have been made by the Conference for relief funds from UMCOR to aid the firefighting efforts.
The Yellowstone United Methodist Free Store in Billings is organizing a response to the Ash Creek/Northern Cheyenne fires.
Items will be collected at Evangelical United Methodist in Billings. Drop of times are Tuesday Evening (6-8:30pm), Wednesday Morning (9am-11am), Thursday (10am-4pm), and Free Store hours Saturday (9am-12:30). Other times can be arranged by calling Linda (651-9457) or Bryan (647-4645).
The truck will be loaded starting at 1pm this coming Sunday and then taken to Lame Deer as soon as it is ready.
Clothing and other items already at the Free Store will be donated to the effort. Additional items are needed however and listed below. Priority items are in bold.
We have also set up a "Yellowstone Conference Disaster Fund" for churches or individuals to make monetary donations to help in the relief. Go to the Conference website: YACUMC.org to make a donation through paypal, or checks can be sent marked for the YC Disaster Fund to the Yellowstone Conference office at PO Box 20335, Billings MT 59104. Any amount large or small will be used for disaster response within our conference.
Needs:
Diapers (all sizes)
Wipes
Bottles
Formula (including lactose-free)
Onesies/baby clothes
Baby hygiene products
Kid shoes
Socks
Kid underwear
Pullups
Toys
Teenager clothes for summer (tank tops, shorts, etc.)
Flip flops
Feminine hygiene products
Make-up
Hair products
Skin products
Male and female adult clothes (large sizes)
Male and female underwear and socks
Male and female shoes (size 7+)
Hats
Razors and shaving cream
Toothpaste and toothbrushes
Dishes and cooking utensils
Bedding
Camping gear/temporary housing supplies
Batteries
Lanterns
Flood lights (x20)
Generators
Yard tools
Extension cords
Bikes or alternative modes of transportation
Coolers
Ice
Water
Non-perishable food
Hygiene kits for showering
Towels
Toilet paper
Paper towels
Paper plates
Trash bags
Plastic utensils
Water dispensers/coolers
Large water containers
Luggage
Hangers
Storage containers
Bags/totes/purses
Moving boxes
Dollies/handtrucks
Laundry soap
Dish soap
Antibacterial wipes
Hand sanitizer
Over the counter medication
First aid supplies
Shower loofahs
Body wash
Contact solution
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Flashlights
