ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Red Cross volunteer Sarah Perkins of Pittsford left Rochester , heading to California to help people displaced by a massive fire.

Perkins is a disaster assessment manager for the Red Cross.

Red Cross disaster workers are supporting evacuation efforts in more than 20 shelters across California.

Perkins is there to make sure Red Cross teams are safe.

"It is always a challenge because fires move. It is not like a flood or a hurricane or a tornado where we know the path of destruction is. Wildfires shift constantly so team safety is my first priority and my greatest concern," Perkins said.

Perkins will help collect information on fire victims and what the Red Cross needs to do to best provide meals, health services and support for the thousands of people who are staying community shelters.

Wildfires are raging across Northern California and more people are expected to evacuate their homes.

Perkins has been to other wildfire disaster response efforts, but says this is one of the most devastating.

"Because this fire is so explosive; there are 15 fires identified and probably more happening now that I am not aware of,” she said.  “It is going to be an unusually bad year for California and Utah and some of the other states that normally experience wildfires. We are going to be very careful about what we do and how we do it this time."

Perkins will be in California for close to three weeks.

She's been on six deployments so far this year.

The Red Cross is always looking for more volunteers at all levels and monetary donations to help people in crisis.