Originally from Southern California, Loretta Millar is no stranger to wildfires.

“One came within a half mile of us, and one came within 50 feet of us, and we sat back and watched everything go in front of us,” she said. “We didn’t lose anything, but we even got sunburned from the fire at one point because we were that close.”

Though Loretta has left California, she hasn’t left her wildfire worries behind. Three years ago, she moved to Orofino, Idaho, a community of about 3,100 people on the Clearwater River.  Surrounded by forest, it’s a beautiful area but one that also comes with significant wildfire risk. Just last August, six homes were destroyed there when the Hospital Fire tore through the Wixson Heights neighborhood.

That’s why Loretta didn’t hesitate to raise her hand last month when Red Cross volunteers came to town to share wildfire preparedness information with families. Volunteers joined Loretta for a walk around the outside of her home where they talked about the importance of creating defensible spaces by removing vegetation, helped her map out an evacuation route and showed her apps she can download on her phone to receive emergency alerts.

Red Crossers also checked Loretta’s smoke alarms.
She was already doing many of the things Red Cross suggests but still appreciated receiving information in-person, customized for her home.

“There’s not many ways for us to get out of this river valley,” she said. “It was just reminding us of the things you need to have ready.”

Over two days, Red Cross volunteers including partners from State Farm Insurance visited 73 Orofino homes and shared wildfire safety information with more than 170 people. They also installed 66 free smoke alarms.

Orofino was specifically selected because of the risk.

“We've had quite a few (fire) responses in the Orofino area," said Jennifer Bivert, the Red Cross disaster program manager in the area who organized the event. "It's an amazing, amazing community to live in. (But) they're surrounded by forest and so we want to make sure that we give them all the tools that they can possibly have to stay as safe as they can.”

For Jacki Kaelin Williams, whose home was one of 64 lost in the Clearwater Complex fires of 2015, volunteering for this event was personal.

“When I was down and out and at my worst point, Red Cross was there," she said. "They were there for us. And I can't help but want to do the same thing for other people. You know, it's very, very difficult to lose what you have."

Though this is a relatively new program for Red Cross, it’s one they plan to bring to other wildfire-prone areas across the region. A similar event was held earlier in Livingston, Mont.

Loretta expects a challenging several months ahead but said she’s feeling better prepared now thanks to her Red Cross visitors.

“I watch the weather and know we’re in for a really hot summer,” she said. “I am going to get up and have my to-go bag ready and in a place next to my car so I can leave quickly.”