Wildfires are burning across the western half of the United States, threatening communities and stretching firefighting resources across the region.

Last week, neighborhoods around Spokane were threatened after multiple wildfires broke out across eastern Washington. On Saturday morning, the Bug Fire broke out north of Reno, bringing the danger of wildfire close to home and further straining already stretched national wildfire resources.

And wildfire does not stop at state or national borders. Earlier this summer, smoke from wildfires burning in Canada blanketed communities across much of the East Coast, reminding us that what happens in one place can affect neighbors hundreds or even thousands of miles away.

We pray for all the communities impacted by wildfires across the western United States, including our own neighbors in Cold Springs, Northern Washoe County, and the surrounding areas. We pray for firefighters and first responders working long hours under dangerous conditions. We pray for families facing evacuation and uncertainty, and for all those whose homes, livelihoods, and communities are threatened.

As Nevada continues through wildfire season, Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada (LEAN) also encourages congregations across our state to prepare.

Churches can play an important role before, during, and after a disaster. We encourage congregations to consider developing and adopting a community disaster response plan: knowing how you will communicate during an emergency, identifying vulnerable members and neighbors who may need assistance, considering how church facilities might serve the community, and building relationships now with local emergency responders and community organizations.

Preparedness is one way we care for our neighbor.

As people of faith, we pray—and we prepare to respond with compassion when our neighbors need us most.