Landrum Fire Department seeking items for wildfire crews

Published 10:00 pm Wednesday, November 16, 2016

LANDRUM – The Landrum Area Fire and Rescue District is looking for items to assist wildfire crews in battling fires in Pickens County and western North Carolina.

According to the South Carolina Forestry Commission, the Pinnacle Mountain fire in Pickens County has burned more than 2,300 acres and has only been 25 percent contained. Firefighters are intentionally burning more than 400 acres along the Foothills Trail in northern Pickens County to reduce the amount of fuel available for the spreading wildfire.

LAFRD Chief Warren Ashmore said district officials are asking anyone with the desire and ability to purchase items necessary to bring them to the department at 200 N. Trade Ave. in Landrum.

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“With the fires only being 15 percent contained, we do not know how long it will be before they’re out,” Ashmore explained. “We’re asking our community to come together and help the personnel on the front lines.”

Ashmore added items ranging from lip balm and eye drops to laundry detergent are things firefighters have an immediate need for while they tackle the 15 wildfires in North Carolina and South Carolina.

“We will make sure the collected items are delivered to the staging areas for the various fires and distributed to the men and women fighting the fires,” Ashmore said. “We will continue collecting items as long as the need exists, so any help would be greatly appreciated.”

The full list according to Ashmore includes lip balm, eye drops, nasal spray, bottled water, hydrating sports drinks, non-perishable portable snacks like granola bars and nuts, non-cotton boot socks and laundry detergent free of dyes and perfumes.