Oklahoma -
The Tulsa Area Chapter of the American Red Cross deployed support vehicles and volunteers to Colorado on Saturday morning.
Three emergency response vehicles and five volunteer teams will assist with Red Cross disaster relief efforts in Colorado.
The teams are going to support firefighters battling the Waldo Canyon fire near Colorado Springs in El Paso County.
The teams could be deployed for two weeks or longer, if needed.
At least two of the volunteers are going specifically to assist residents with recovery, connecting them with resources who can help with their longer-term disaster-related needs.
The Waldo Canyon fire has burned at least 16,750 acres.
Officials said it is the highest-priority wildfire in the United States. It is about 25 percent contained.
Two bodies were found in a home burned in the Waldo Canyon fire.
Wildfires have forced thousands of people from their homes, and the American Red Cross is offering those affected a safe place to stay, food to eat, and emotional support.
Authorities on Friday began lifting some of the evacuation orders for the more than 30,000 people who fled their homes a few days ago.
More than 275 trained disaster workers are helping people in Colorado, and additional truckloads of supplies and response vehicles are en route to support relief efforts.
Over 355 people spent Thursday night in nine Red Cross shelters in Colorado and Montana.
Donita Quesnel, Senior Director of Communications for the Tulsa Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, said that people wishing to help fire victims can make a financial donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting www.OKRedCross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), or texting the word 'REDCROSS' to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
Three Red Cross emergency response vehicles and corresponding volunteer teams from the Central & Western Oklahoma Region also deployed from the regional chapter headquartered in Oklahoma City.
In addition to the Waldo Canyon fire near Colorado Springs, firefighters are also battling the High Park fire near Fort Collins on Colorado's Front Range and the Pine Ridge fire on Colorado's Western Slope.
Much of Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado are under a red flag warning, meaning conditions are hot, dry, and ripe for fires.
[Sources: Associated Press, Red Cross]
Rick Umstead and Phyllis Stanke
Phyllis Stanke and Becky Haberly
