By Ken Camp
Texas Baptist Men disaster relief responded to varied needs after the Double Diamond wildfire burned about 2,600 acres in the state’s Panhandle and destroyed 225 homes around Fritch, Texas.
At its high point, the fire forced more than 2,100 people from their homes.
The shower and laundry unit from First Baptist Church in Amarillo, Texas, provided service to the community and volunteers as soon as authorities opened the charred area to the public.
A six-person assessment team and a cleanout crew from Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo expected to begin work in the area May 16.
Volunteer teams trained to remove ash planned to start serving the affected region May 19.
Chaplains were enlisted to accompany the ash-removal and assessment teams.
TBM also deployed two skid-steers and volunteers with cutting torches to the area to remove debris.
TBM representatives helped staff a multiagency resource center set up in Fritch by Texas Panhandle Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster to provide wildfire victims food, short-term assistance and grief counseling.