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Oklahoma Baptists Helping Colorado Fires Cleanup

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Teams of disaster relief volunteers from the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma are helping with fire cleanup efforts in Colorado.

Teams have been working in the Black Forest area northeast of Colorado Springs for more than a month. Workers have helped clear 55 square miles of devastated forest, clearing 80-foot tall trees and helping remove debris from more than 500 residences that were destroyed.

Disaster Relief Director Sam Porter says Oklahoma Baptist volunteers have valuable skills and can make a significant difference in the lives of others.

Since the cleanup started, there have been between four and 10 Southern Baptist disaster relief teams in Colorado from across the nation. Oklahoma disaster relief teams will remain in Colorado for two to three more weeks, depending on the severity of the need.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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