As I type this, there is a wildfire raging in Central Oregon.

And, as I type this, the Red Cross is operating a shelter in Sisters for everyone who has made the decision to voluntarily evacuate.

We’re giving people a place to go for a bite to eat, a shoulder to lean on and, most important, information. It will also be the site of a public meeting later this afternoon to discuss next steps. And, as always, we’ll be open to help residents as long as we’re needed.

One of the cool things is that the local Red Cross has partnered with the Pet Evacuation Team of Redmond. This means that the shelter has kennels on hand, just in case someone comes in with a small animal. The PET folks are also available to provide assistance when it comes to livestock.

And speaking of animals, since I don’t have pics of the shelter to share, I thought I’d instead share this important reminder about wildfires (well, forest fires). It’s from 1968, but I think the message holds true.