wfn.org | ABCUSA: No Damage to Churches and Camp Reported as Wildfires Continue

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 10/30/03)--As the rampaging
California wildfires continue for a tenth day, there are no reports of
injuries to individual American Baptists or damage to churches.  Thousand
Pines Camp, situated in the midst of the affected area, also has been
spared.

The fires, located in southern California and Baja California, Mexico, have
consumed more than 660,000 acres, destroyed approximately 2,500 homes and
caused overall damage in excess of $2 billion.	At least 18 people have
died.

Staff at the American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest said that as
of about noon Pacific Time today no region churches had reported any
structural damage and no injuries had been reported.  The region's Thousand
Pines Camp, which had seemed to be in significant danger yesterday, has been
spared damage as the major fires moved out of the area.  The camp has hosted
scores of firefighters who have been involved in efforts in nearby
locations.

Also, American Baptist International Ministries has confirmed that American
Baptist missionaries in southern California and Baja California, Mexico, are
safe: Richard Barnes and Mercedes Gonzalez-Barnes, El Centro, Calif., and
Baja California, Mexico; Charles and Ramona Shawver, Glenville, Calif.;
Timothy and Patricia Long, Chula Vista and San Diego, Calif., and Mexicali,
Baja California; and Raymond Schellinger and Adalia Schellinger-Gutiirrez,
Tijuana, Mexico. 

Updated information will be issued as the situation develops. 

K/2003ABNS/03ABN129

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (800)ABC-3USA x2077
/ (610)768-2077; fax: (610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org;
richard.schramm@abc-usa.org