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From the Marfa Chamber of Commerce, April 14:
Friends of Marfa, You may have heard about two wild fires that have been raging in our area since Saturday afternoon. Marfa, itself, has been spared from damage. Our neighbor to the north, Fort Davis, was not so lucky. The fire destroyed many homes and other structures. Fences, utility poles and thousands of acres of ranch land were burned as the fire raced north from Hwy 90 west of Marfa. Many people have asked how they can help. Below is a list of organizations that are accepting donations to assist victims of the devastation. |
| Rock House and Roper Fires
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From Big Bend Now.com: On Saturday afternoon, brutal winds pushed a fire from its origin west of Marfa through hills and ranchland, rocketing with tremendous speed toward Fort Davis and beyond. From the Texas Forest Service web site: ROCKHOUSE, Presidio and Jeff Davis counties. 108,000 acres, 60 percent contained. The fire started Saturday near Marfa and burned rapidly north to Fort Davis. Twenty-three homes and two businesses were reported as destroyed in the Ft. Davis area. A Type I incident command team will assume command of the fire this morning. Eight TIFMAS Type 1 engines and four tenders are assisting with the fire, as well as numerous air tankers and helicopters.A base camp for hundreds of firefighters has been set up at the Fort Davis State Park. The acreage increase was due to more accurate mapping from a satellite burn scar. ROPER, Brewster County. 25,000 acres. The fire is burning east of Alpine. | |||
| How You Can Help
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From the Fort Davis Fires Facebook Page: “If you are outside of the area affected by the fires and eager to help, please direct your efforts towards adding money to the relief funds. The people of Fort Davis are overwhelmed by your generosity, but may soon be overwhelmed by donations of goods that far exceed the need. Please, rather than sending goods/arranging clothing drives, gather your friends and make a donation of funds. Thank you! Monetary donations are critical and always appreciated.” You may donate through any of the following: Jeff Davis County Relief Fund via Fort Davis State Bank P.O. Box 1808 Fort Davis TX 79734 Account #321028 (needs to be included). If you’d like to donate specifically towards fencing labor and materials, indicate FENCING FUND on your donation. Jeff Davis County Relief Fund c/o Permian Basin Area Foundation 200 N. Loraine, Suite 500 Midland, TX 79701 Fort Davis County Volunteer Fire Department PO Box 811 Fort Davis TX 79734 Valentine Volunteer Fire Department PO Box 44 Valentine, TX 79854 Marfa Volunteer Fire Department PO Box 846 Marfa TX 79843 Davis Mountains Resort Fire Department 432-426-2800 Terlingua Fire & EMS 432-371-2536 Salvation Army of Texas Monetary donations to support The Salvation Army Texas Wildfire Relief can be made by mail to P.O.Box 36607, Dallas, TX 75235, by phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY or online at www.salvationarmytexas.org American Red Cross of Southwest Texas Right now the greatest need for the local Red Cross is monetary donations to assist all of the victims of disaster relief in West Texas. Donations can be mailed to the American Red Cross of Southwest Texas at PO Box 60310, Midland TX, 79711. If you would like to make a donation using a credit card, please call the office at 432-563-2267. | |
| For News about the West Texas Fires
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Visit Big Bend Now for current news and photographs of the fires. Also visit Marfa Public Radio KRTS Marfa Public Radio 93.5FM has been broadcasting information and updates since the fire began on Saturday afternoon. Our thanks to the staff and volunteers at Marfa Public Radio for their extraordinary efforts to keep residents of the tri-county area – and around the world through streaming on-line -informed about the crisis in our area. | |
