Tribal Firefighters Side by Side With County and C

[Okwes]

Tribal Firefighters Side by Side With County and CDF in Esperanza Blaze;
Morongo Tribe Assisting Local Fire Victims With Food/Shelter; Red Cross
Says Tribal Response Instantaneous

www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/1\
0-27-2006/0004461294&EDATE
<http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/\
10-27-2006/0004461294&EDATE>
MORONGO INDIAN RESERVATION, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The first call to
Morongo for firefighters came in at 1:30 a.m. Thursday morning and the
first engine left the reservation at 1:35 a.m. According to Morongo Band
of Mission Indians' fire captain Tim Beadle, "it's been 24/7 support
ever since.""Our second engine was called into service yesterday
afternoon and Morongo firefighters then went to work alongside the
Esperanza fire strike teams," said Beadle.Yesterday, as evacuations of
families began, the tribe began working with the Riverside Chapter of
the American Red Cross to serve lunch and dinner meals to the displaced
Cabazon residents. Red Cross CEO Pam Anderson said the "response was
instantaneous." Hundreds of meals will be served today from the
temporary Red Cross shelter in Cabazon. Two fire victims, Charles and
Victor Miner, who lost their home and suffered second degree burns were
housed at the tribe's casino last night. According to Morongo hotel
director Tom Mueller, they are coordinating with Banning city officials
to provide lodging and meals for evacuees from the Cabazon area."We
extend our deep condolences to the families of the firefighters lost
yesterday," said Morongo Tribal Chairman Robert Martin. "In a tragedy
like this, we have to pull together and help each other." For
information and to receive updates, contact Alison Stauffer at
916-225-6317 or Waltona Manion at 800-933-7376. SOURCE Morongo Band of
Mission Indians