By Nick Buglione
Dom Regina, 66, who has volunteered for the last six years with the American Red Cross in Nassau County, was deployed to the eastern part of Arizona on June 27, where a wildfire broke out in two separate locations over a week earlier--destroying 468,638 acres of pine and juniper forest and almost 500 homes.
Specially trained with the Red Cross in mass care and shelter management, Regina is helping coordinate shelter operations and food services in the town of Show Low for the thousands that have been evacuated from their communities.
"We've been doing mobile feedings and fixed-site feedings," said Regina in a brief telephone interview from one of the shelters. Mobile feedings, he added, refers to delivering food directly to those isolated in their homes, while fixed-site feedings take place in designated areas set up by the Red Cross.
The wildfire broke out in two separate locations on June 18 and June 20, causing nearly 5,000 firefighters from all over the country to scramble to Arizona in an attempt to get the fire under control.
"We're even busier now than ever," said Regina. "Some of these people lost their homes entirely."
One fire began when a lost hiker tried to signal for help, while officials allege the other was started intentionally by a part-time firefighter. The accused firefighter, 29-year-old Leonard Gregg, purportedly started the fire because he wanted the money he would get for helping fight it. Gregg pleaded not guilty to arson.
The fire forced the evacuation of 30,000 people from nine communities. By June 29, most of those evacuees were allowed to go home--their neighborhoods reduced to a composite of rubble and scorched earth.
"As the fire kept growing and growing the need for volunteers grew," James Green, spokesman for the American Red Cross in Nassau County, said. "Dom's definitely one of the volunteers that's always willing to help out."
Having recieved extensive disaster training, Regina is one of the Red Cross' Disaster Services Human Resource (DSHR) volunteers that responded to the call for help in Arizona. Aside from their qualifications, this sector of volunteers are available to devote extended periods of time to relief efforts. Regina is semi-retired, making him a perfect candidate for DSHR.
"When there's a disaster, national headquarters puts out a call to the different chapters and then they put out a list of the people who they need to be out there," Regina said. "I had the time and I was available to get out here."
According to Walter Betuel, American Red Cross in Nassau County director of emergency services, Regina is an extremely experienced and selfless volunteer.
"He's a really good volunteer and he puts in a lot of time at the chapter," Betuel said. He went on to note that Regina is no stranger to disasters, having taken part in relief efforts during Hurricane Floyd, the Egypt Air crash and the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
"Whenever people are devastated, nothing is easy," Regina said, explaining that its difficult to compare the magnitude of the Arizona wildfire with that of the other disasters he's faced.
His wife, who eagerly awaits his return to East Meadow, has been very supportive of his voluntary work, he said.
"My wife, God bless her, she knows that it's important to help people," Regina added. "She's more than glad that I am able to volunteer."
As of July 8, the wildfires were reported to be fully contained, having caused some $28 million in damage. Authorities estimated that the fire cost about $43 million to fight.
Green said Regina should return to East Meadow on Tuesday, July 16 barring a development that would prolong his stay. At press time, it was not known whether Regina had come home.
The American Red Cross in Nassau County provides disaster assistance to victims of fires, storms, floods, hurricanes and other occurrences. Assistance is free and is made possible by financial contributions from the community.
To make a financial contribution call (516) 747-3500, or mail a check payable to the American Red Cross in Nassau County, 195 Willis Ave., Mineola, NY 11501. To learn more about them visit their Web site at www.NassauRedCross.org.
