Lutheran Church Charities was invited by Jeremy Sanders, Battalion Chief, Cal Fire, Employee Support Services, to bring the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs to be with the first responders protecting life and property of those affected by the California wildfires.
As thousands of firefighters continue to battle dozens of fires in California, two LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams continued to give much needed emotional relief to hundreds of firefighters working out of two base camps in Northern California.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Aaron (St. John’s – Napa, California) and Micah (Light of the Valley – Elk Grove, California) and their teams met firefighters and support teams at Cal Fire base camps at the Alameda Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, California, and Napa Valley Fairgrounds in Calistoga, California throughout the week.

Aaron Comfort Dog has been busy traveling between the Pleasanton and Calistoga Cal Fire Base Camps serving the firefighters and support staff from all over the West Coast who are battling the LNU Lightning Complex Fire and the Santa Clarita Unit (SCU) Lightning Complex Fires in Northern California. These fires alone cover almost 700,000 acres.

These brave heroes have been out on the line for 14 days. They are hot, exhausted, and missing their families and pets. Some are anxious as they await their orders to either finally go home or to be re-assigned for another 7- 14 days. Most just grabbed on to Aaron and hug him for a long while. Sometimes even tears surfaced as they told us about their dogs at home and how they miss their families.

Aaron Comfort Dog and his team have been to so many fire base camps through the years that we oftentimes hear from a distance, “Is that Aaron?” It is reassuring to know that our visits make an impact and that these selfless heroes remember us. We are blessed to be the hands and feet of Jesus!

Micah Comfort Dog went to the Alameda County Fair Grounds in Pleasanton to provide comfort to the SCU firefighters and support staff. It was a great visit with many of the firefighters mentioning how much they missed their dogs and that Micah made their day. Some of the support staff were joking about who Micah loved the most.

It was an honor to be there as the firefighters were going out and those coming back in after being out for 24 hours. There is a village of people that support the firefighters, such as the food service, laundry, security, facilities, training, and accommodations, air-conditioned sleeping units, keeping the grounds clean, etc. The SCU fire has burned 383,157 acres as of Monday morning and is 60% contained.

Please pray for these courageous men and women who put their lives on the line to stop these dangerous and destructive fires. God bless them all and those affected by these fires.

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” (Isaiah‬ ‭40:1)‬

LCC never goes where we are not invited. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry NEVER charges those we serve. We pick up all of our travel and meal costs. We put boots and paws on the ground within 24 hours (often fewer) from the time we get the invite.

Please consider a donation to the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry so that we may continue to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

Lutheran Church Charities was invited by Jeremy Sanders, Battalion Chief, Cal Fire, Employee Support Services, to bring the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs to be the with the first responders protecting life and property of those affected by the California wildfires.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Aaron (St. John's - Napa, California) and Micah (Light of the Valley, Elk Grove - California), and their teams deployed over the weekend to offer comfort to the firefighters and their leadership teams at Cal Fire Base Camp in Pleasanton who help battle the California wildfires.

California Governor Gavin Newsom revealed in an update Monday that the extent of the fire damage ravaging the state is now at 1.2 million acres, nearly the size of the entire Grand Canyon.

Please pray for these courageous men and women who put their lives on the line to stop these dangerous and destructive fires. God bless them all and those affected by these fires.

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” (Isaiah‬ ‭40:1)‬

LCC never goes where we are not invited. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry NEVER charges those we serve. We pick up all of our travel and meals costs. We put boots and paws on the ground within 24 hours (often fewer) from the time we get the invite.

Please consider a donation to the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry so that we may continue to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

During this fire devastation, the teams also attended to the Law Enforcement Officer community after the Line-Of-Duty death of Sutter County Sheriff’s K-9 Deputy Bandit. Deputy Bandit and his Handler Sgt. John Perez were working mutual aid with Butte County in wake of the Camp Fire. 

Please continue to keep all of these families in your prayers as they seek to restore their lives. In addition, please pray for the first responders and volunteers who continue to battle the wildfires and search for those who are missing.

Only in the arms of God is there a safe place!
“God is our safe place and our strength.
He is always our help when we are in trouble.”  
Psalm 46:1

Lutheran Church Charities is currently on multiple Disaster and Crisis Response deployments in California (mass shooting and fires) and in Florida (Hurricane Michael). The California deployment for the shootings is now also serving all the families displaced from their homes because of the fires happening right now – and we are in the middle of it.

There is still widespread devastation in Panama City, Florida, and our Disaster Response LERT volunteers are on the ground this week to do chainsaw work, tarping roofs, and anything that needs to be done to help those who are still not in their homes from Hurricane Michael. In addition, the semi-truck is arriving today with food and other critical items donated to help the 6,000 individuals each week that Trinity is serving.
 
We PUT and KEEP boots and paws on the ground to be with people who are suffering! Please keep everyone in California and Florida in your prayers – as in both places we are serving people who have been traumatized.

Here are just a few of the places where LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Ruthie, Emma, Jacob and Hannah (LCC Staff), Cubby (Redeemer – Fort Collins, Colorado), Lois (First Good Shepherd – Las Vegas, Nevada), and Aaron (St. John’s – Napa, California) and their teams have been serving in Thousand Oaks:

• Borderline Bar & Grill: Saturday & Sunday vigils
  
• California Lutheran University (Cal Lutheran): Thursday night vigil, daily at counseling center, Monday town hall meeting  
• Christ the King Lutheran Church: Friday & Sunday morning
• La Quinta Hotel: evacuee guests
• Red Cross Evacuation Center, Thousand Oaks

The Camp Fire is in Northern California which completely and literally wiped off the map the town of Paradise. Nearly 40,000 displaced, most of whom lost their homes and everything. Untold numbers of people lost their lives or are unaccounted for.

Reports to date are stating that over 90 firefighters who have been risking their life to battle the horrendous flames have lost their own homes due to the current wild fires.

Lord of Life – LaFox: Larry Zagorski, Terry & Mary Kramer, Kevin Krage, Dave Smercina, Jeff Straughn
Prince of Peace – Palatine: Jim Beckley
St. John – Wheaton: Steve Chester, Marty Johnson, David Schesselman,
St. Peter – Schaumburg: Ken Kivarante, Tom Amundsen
Trinity – Lisle: Clay Arnold, Ed & Jan Boerman, Skip & Karen Sorensen, Mike Kostecki, Carl Witt
Trinity – Roanoke: Ron Wagner
Trinity – Roselle: Kristin Bilar, Bob Pautsch
Trinity – Tinley Park: Joel Powless

Indiana
St. John’s – Dillsboro: Steve Black

Almost every home and business has been affected in some way in Panama City. The destruction is widespread. Many families are living in damaged homes because of limited other housing options. The schools are planning to open this week with children now from several schools having to attend the ones not damaged too severely. The local hospital is not able to reopen for another three months. Only one grocery store is open in town and the checkout lines are always long. Everyone is managing the best they can in a difficult and trying situation.

Trinity Lutheran is helping their community by providing emotional, spiritual, and physical support. They are distributing food and supplies to thousands of affected residents each week with many willing volunteers. They are also housing the many teams who are coming in from all over the country to assist in recovery.

Our LERT team has already tarped several roofs after removing trees from them and doing chainsaw work and debris removal. We are privileged to show the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

On Tuesday, November 13, Kathy O’Day and Sean McAdams, LCC Media Specialist, were invited to meet with Pastor Dave Gieseking from Living Water Lutheran Church in Mexico Beach, Florida. Hurricane Michael, with its 155 mph winds and 15’ storm surge, totally wiped his church and home away along with coastal towns. Pastor held worship service on the beach this past Sunday morning to offer the hope of Christ in the midst of chaos. Living Water was known as the “community church” as its doors were always open and they served the community needs with its presence and willing hearts and hands. Help will be needed in this community for many years to come.

CLICK HERE to view  to Pastor Dave as he shows the devastation and shares his story

With your help, LCC is blessed to provide the physical help and a comforting presence needed to help individuals, families, first responders, and volunteers in all of these communities who are shocked, devastated, and feeling hopeless and helpless. Please continue to support us with fervent prayer and if you are moved, continue to help us with expenses.

Update: November 9, 2018

Pastor Philip Zabell, LCMS California, Nevada, and Hawaii (CNH) District Disaster Response Coordinator, who we have been keeping in close contact with since the fires began, sent this note of thanks to LCC:

“Thank you to LCC for walking with us during this time of disaster in Northern California. Your prayers, the comfort dogs, and now the financial support are most appreciated. May God richly bless the people of LCC with continued vision as to how He wishes you to be instruments of His mercy to those impacted by disaster.”

As of Sunday, August 12, this fire alone has burned 201,680 acres resulting in the loss of 8 lives and 1,077 homes. It is only 43% contained with many more homes threatened. And this is only one of the fires currently burning in California.

On Monday, July 30, three LCC K-9 Ministry teams from Nebraska joined Reuben Comfort Dog: LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Eddie (Peace Lutheran – Grand Island, Nebraska), Moses (Christ Lutheran – Grand Island, Nebraska), and Priscilla (Trinity Lutheran – Lincoln, Nebraska). Aaron Comfort Dog (St. John’s – Napa, California) and his team, joined the teams at the end of the week, deploying as soon as they returned home.

The LCC K-9 Ministry teams met daily with firefighters at the camp during breakfast before they left to fight the Carr Fire, and they met with them when they returned back in the early evening. Over 4,000 first responders and support individuals are working on this fire. During their days, the teams visited with evacuees at shelters throughout the area, a visit to the coroner’s office, a firefighters memorial service, and medical aid stations.

“After being away from family and friends for weeks at a time, @comfortdogs makes it a little bit easier. Thank you @comfortdogs my day has been made!”

“I met Moses and Priscilla Comfort Dogs today. I am deployed to the Anderson fairgrounds near Redding, California, in support of the Carr fire. They were both so soft and adorable. Thank you and them so much for the comfort you bring victims and first responders. I didn’t want to let go of them and as I walked away, I actually teared up a little.”

Aaron Comfort Dog shared the following:

“This little boy loved getting miniature me and of course being with his brave Dad.”

So far, the Carr Fire near Redding has burned more than 163,000 acres and is 45 percent contained. The wildfire has killed two firefighters and five civilians, and has destroyed more than 1,000 homes. Conditions were extreme with temperatures over 100 degrees. Extra precautions were taken for both Comfort Dogs and handlers.

Please keep everyone who has been affected by the fires in your prayers, 911 operators, and all the first responders who bravely put their own lives in jeopardy to serve their communities.

Dear Ministry Friends and Partners,  
 
God will carry you through the Fire!  
 
We just finished our 2018 LCC National K-9 Conference Friday night. During the conference we were communicating several times a day with our connections in California about the fires. Each day we were getting word on how rapidly the fires were spreading, and how many people had been evacuated and were in shelters. Many of the people in the shelters have lost their homes and most of their possessions.  
 
With the generosity of our donors, Lutheran Church Charities will work closely with our churches, Trinity Lutheran, Redding and First Lutheran, Yuba City, to help relocate the victims, especially displaced elderly, who have been directly affected by the fires.

Here are the facts:  

• We have been invited by Disaster Response Coordinator Pastor Phil Zabel, Pastor Brian Cummins of Trinity Lutheran Church, Redding, and CAL Fire.  
• Over 110,000 acres burned, 1,400+ structures destroyed, 27% contained
• Over 40,000 people have been evacuated with more expected.  
• First Lutheran in Yuba City is standing by to be our support congregation. This is the home of LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Reuben, led by Top Dog James Casner.
• Local convalescent homes in Yuba City are taking in evacuees and have requested K-9 Ministry teams.  

This year's conference theme was "With Me on the Road" - going where Jesus leads. So we are preparing to go on the road.
 
Our Mission is to Share the Mercy, Compassion, Presence, and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need, so we are deploying in shifts to serve those suffering from the devastating effects of this fire.

On Sunday, July 29, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Reuben (First Lutheran – Yuba City, California) began visiting first responders to thank them for their dedication and tireless service, including the Cal Fire Command Center and the National Guard soldiers. LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Aaron (St. John’s – Napa, California), Eddie (Peace Lutheran – Grand Island, Nebraska), Moses (Christ Lutheran – Cairo, Nebraska), and Priscilla (Trinity Lutheran – Lincoln, Nebraska) are on their way to join Reuben Comfort Dog’s team. Plans are to continue to visit first responders and affected families who have been relocated to shelters.

Please keep everyone who has been affected by the fires in your prayers as well as all the first responders who put their own lives in jeopardy to serve their communities. Please also pray for the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams as they begin deploying. We have some Comfort Dogs already on the ground serving as I write this. God ALWAYS provides, caring for His people in the midst of tragedy - and He will this time as well.  
 
Thank you for all of your support in touching lives with the Presence of Jesus Christ - our only hope!

Peace in Jesus Christ,