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—-UPDATE REPORT —
Palisades Fire in Pacific Presbytery: Second Update
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ in Pacific Presbytery,
It is hard to believe that only yesterday the Palisades fire began. Tonight I write with deep grief and sadness with the confirmation that we lost the beautiful Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church today. Even more, much of the city of Palisades has been lost. And now there are multiple fires burning throughout Los Angeles County. As the Office of Emergency Management said today: All residents in LA County continue to remain in danger.
BE SAFE. Wherever you are in Los Angeles County, please abide by any evacuation orders immediately and consider evacuating even if you have been issued a warning. These are unprecedented and rapidly moving fires. Winds are strong and erratic and the safest option is to evacuate. Do not travel if you do not need to. I cannot emphasize how serious the situation continues to be.
Here is the latest update on the fires from Cal Fire as of 10 pm tonight:
Palisades Fire - 15,832 acres - 0% containment
Eaton Fire - 10,600 acres - 0% containment
Hurst Fire - 850 acres - 0% containment
Lidia Fire - 348 acres - 40% containment
Sunset Fire (new) - 60 acres - 0% containment
STAY UPDATED. The best way to stay updated on evacuation orders and warnings and also places where evacuation shelters have been set up, visit CAL FIRE. Another good app for tracking evacuation orders, fires, winds and air quality is WATCH DUTY.
GIVE. Rev. Jim Kirk, Associate for National Disaster Response for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, has spoken with me multiple times today. HERE IS THE LINK TO GIVE TO PDA please designate to Wildfires: DR000165. Please consider taking an offering at your church this Sunday and give to PDA. These funds will be used for both emergency and long term needs. Please give generously. These funds will be used initially for gift cards and emergency unmet needs.
CHURCH SHELTER OFFERED. We have more churches willing to open up their spaces. If you know of anyone in need of shelter, please let me know: heidi@pacificpresbytery.org
- Culver City Presbyterian Church 11269 West Washington Blvd. Culver City, CA 90230. Call Pastor Frances at 310.740.7355 24/7 and enter through the alleyway.
- First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica 1220 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA 90401. Phone: 310.451.1303
- Brentwood Presbyterian Church 12000 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049. Phone: 310.826.5656
- St. Peter’s By the Sea Presbyterian Church 6410 Palos Verdes Dr. South Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275. Phone: 310.377.6882
- Immanuel Presbyterian Church 3300 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010 (they have space with a bed and showers). Phone: 213.389.3191
PRAY. Pray for our firefighters, for the people of Pacific Palisades and Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church, and for our region in Los Angeles County. May we invite the love of God to lead our response.
I am the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance representative to ENLA, the Emergency Network of Los Angeles that is meeting daily to coordinate our response. This is the big one folks. The more we are connected, the stronger our response will be. Let’s pray. Let’s act. And let’s stay connected.
Grace and Peace,
Heidi
Rev. Heidi Worthen Gamble
Mission Catalyst
Pacific Presbytery
heidi@pacificpresbytery.org
—END UPDATE REPORT—
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