Lending A Helping Hand

By Sam Waller

Last week’s wildfires in Eastland County saw several Shackelford County residents lend a hand in battling the blazes, while more have joined the relief effort this week.

The Albany Volunteer Fire Department sent three firefighters and a truck to Ranger, according to Fire Chief Travis Gardenhire.

“We assisted with the three structure fires in downtown Ranger,” Gardenhire said.

He added that AVFD personnel fought fires until late Thursday night.

“We were there until about 11:00 or 11:30 p.m. when we were released,” he said. “We didn’t assist on the actual grass fires due to lack of personnel. We couldn’t send all of our people in case something happened in our county.”

The Shackelford County Rural Volunteer Fire Department served in a support role, but did not actively fight fires, department secretary Kristi Brooker said.

“We did not have the ability to send anybody out because we only had a few people around for the weekend,” Brooker said. “We did gather water and other items and took two pickup loads down there.”

While the fires did not reach Shackelford County, there was impact locally. The Albany Softball Association’s 10U team was scheduled to play its first game Sunday, March 20 at Cisco. Coach Christina Hargett said the game was less than 30 minutes old when play was stopped because of a fire not far from the field.

Relief Efforts

While there is local involvement in the relief effort, it is all being conducted by individuals and church groups.

Shackelford County judge Bob Skelton, also the county’s emergency management coordinator, said the emergency management office is not taking an official role in the relief effort.

“I’ve heard that individual ranchers are donating hay, but I don’t know of any organized groups at this time,” Skelton said.

Carrie Holson, the emergency management coordinator for the City of Albany, said her office is monitoring the local situation, but has not taken an active role in Eastland County.

Closet Angels director Lori Reames said the ministry is among several local groups joining the relief effort.

“We took a load Tuesday,” Reames said. “We’re collecting whatever the folks in Eastland County tell us they need.”

Reames said the trip included stops at several locations, including Closet Angels’ Eastland facility.

“Our ultimate plan was to get to Carbon and help them organize,” she said.  “We took clothing racks, hangers, and tables.”

In Eastland County, a disaster assistance center has been set up at Siebert Elementary Dome in Eastland. Donation pickup sites are located at First Baptist Church in Eastland, Carbon Fire Department in Carbon and Myrtle Wilks Community Center in Cisco.

On the Closet Angels Albany Texas Facebook page, Reames posted a detailed list of more than a dozen Eastland County organizations and the items needed by each.

“We’re just communicating on an individual basis with all the entities that are trying to help,” Reames said. “We’re trying to help those who are trying to help.”

First Financial Bank is accepting physical donations for the relief effort.Monetary donations may be made online at www.cfabilene.org/firerelief.