Red Cross provides feeding at south Polk wildfire

Volunteers feed 50 emergency personnel at site of rural brush fire

MULBERRY, FL (Dec. 11, 2008) – On Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 10, Red Cross volunteers feed 50 emergency personnel called out to contain a wildfire at Bradley Junction – the junction of State Road 37 and State Road 630 West – near the Polk/Hardee County line south of Mulberry, Fla.

At 2 p.m., volunteers with the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter responded to the fire and provided hot meals and drinks to firefighters from both Polk and Hardee Counties who had been battling the blaze.

Florida is prone to wildfires, especially in winter and spring before summer rains replenish ground water. While home fires still top the list as the most common American Red Cross disaster response, wildfires become far more common at this time of year as vegetation dries out. The Red Cross urges every person to follow all fire safety precautions, indoors or outdoors, and to make and practice a family fire escape plan, especially from wildfire.

For more information on how to protect yourself from wildfire, contact your local American Red Cross Polk County Chapter at (863) 294-5941 or visit http://polkcountyfl.redcross.org/WildfireSafetyTips.htm.

The American Red Cross provides immediate emergency assistance during disasters, based on need, thanks to donations from individuals and businesses in the local community. Please support your local Red Cross.