July 15, 2021 – SAN DIEGO – A group of eight skilled construction volunteers from International Relief Teams (IRT) will be deployed to the small town of Paradise in Northern California for two weeks on Sunday, July 18, 2021 to repair and rebuild homes damaged or destroyed by the 2018 Camp fire.
Volunteers depart on Sunday, July 18 on Alaska Airlines Flight 2401 at 10:40 am from the San Diego airport. Volunteers return to San Diego on Sunday, August 1; Alaska Airlines Flight 2404 at 12:10 pm.
The 2018 wildfires in California were the deadliest and most destructive in the state’s history. About 30,000 families lost their homes, their livelihoods, and their hopes for the future. Paradise was nearly wiped off the map by the fire. Only 5% of buildings in the town remained without serious damage.
“Recovery after a major disaster can take years. We began rebuilding in Northern California in 2019. Our volunteer construction teams were put on hold throughout 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and this is the first team to deploy in 2021. We are thrilled to begin our efforts again to help the families of Paradise continue to recover and rebuild. IRT will continue to send volunteer teams to fire-ravaged communities as long as they are needed,” said Barry La Forgia, IRT Executive Director.
IRT has 33 years of experience in assisting victims of disasters, both nationally and internationally. IRT also has a long history of providing aid and/or volunteer construction teams following major wildfires in California including the 2018 Camp and Carr fires, the 2015 Valley fire, and the 2007 and 2003 San Diego firestorms.
International Relief Teams alleviates the suffering caused by poverty and disaster around the globe, from the forgotten corners of the world to right here at home, by sending volunteer teams and medical supplies to make immediate change for the world’s most vulnerable people.