2025 Los Angeles Wildfires and How One Can Help
A short, actionable list on how to help (who/what/where/with)
Hello!
Los Angeles is heavily impacted by wildfires. This memo provides both a micro and macro snapshot on how one can help, and where one can get help. All forms of helping are a net positive.
When all the world is a flame asunder, what hope is there? Well, as Mr. Roger’s would say, look for the people who are helping.
There’s no shortage.
And you can help too.
Thanks to my wife, as well as Jason, David, and Trixie for a lot of recommendations.
Allen
How To Help
There are five kinds of contributions people can make when there’s an active crisis
Information, and the support of factual reporting (Where to go, but also who to listen to, are very important)
Labor, and getting logistic distribution to work
Physical Resources, and the organizing, packaging, and delivery
Safe Lodging and Storage
Money, which simply gives options
Key Information
Short Term Resources
MONITORING INFORMATION: Get all your fire status and crisis response information from Watch Duty, which includes evacuation zones and shelter points.
VOLUNTEER: Find a volunteer opportunity via LA Works.
You don’t have to be professionally good, you have to be physically there.
DONATE ITEMS: Find out what organization needs what kind of resource via Mutual Aid Los Angeles Network Spreadsheet.
Find an org. See what they need. Donate that specific item.
And yes, you can go to locations giving out resources, and move said resources to other locations.
DONATE CASH: Pick an organization(or 10) or specific gofundme, and donate.
Long-Term Resources
INSURANCE: California Fire Insurance: California prevents insurance companies from canceling or not renewing home insurance policies for those impacted by the LA Fires.
Caveat: Insurance can’t be cancelled within 1 year of a declared California emergency.The This was declared January 7, 2025. Here’s the grand ol’ list of other wildfire emergency declarations.WORK: California Labor Code 230.8 gives parents job protected time off when schools are closed due to natural disasters including fires. California Labor Code 1139 gives employees the right toe refuse to go to work if the workplace is unsafe.
TAXES: IRS extends all key deadlines to October 15 for Southern Californians.
AID: Federal Assistance available today for Californians, for individual and business assistance. It is quite the process.
How can I show up and help?
This list on LA Works has it all.
Housing
Family Support
Food and Supplies
Animal Support
Financial Contributions
How do I keep up with fire situation?
The Number 1 fire monitoring app: Watch Duty
Watch Duty, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, provides real-time alerts on wildfires and firefighting efforts in the U.S. West and Rocky Mountains.
Known for clear, factual updates, it combats misinformation during crises with dedicated reporters and radio monitoring. Support their essential, costly infrastructure by donating.
What organization can I help locally?
A prolific list on “what organizations” to provide help to at a local level is curated Mutual Aid Los Angeles Network (MALAN).
I’d point you to the FEMA/CA website but those are a bit much.
For crisis response, community-driven action, and grassroots campaigns, a google ol’ fashion spreadsheet with logistic information has never failed. MALAN provides a repository of all kinds of volunteer organization - and for the 2025 January Wildifres in SoCal, they’ve got a simple, yet incredible, list of of what organizations need your help. Useful for when you want to be specific.
Who are the organizations helping?
LA Times: A list of free and discounted resources for victims of Los Angeles-area fires - presents a list of private businesses helping.
World Central Kitchen - Started by chef Jose Andres, WCK provides fresh, nutritious meals on the frontlines of humanitarian, climate, and community crises. Partnering with local groups and using food trucks or emergency kitchens. Your donation supports their emergency food relief efforts which are actively deployed in LA’s Wildfire Response.
Pasadena Humane Society - Animals.
LA Fire Department Foundation - for the funding of deployable emergency fire shelters, hydration backpacks for firefighters, and wildland brushtools used to clear debris that fuels fires.
Red Cross - Donate to the Red Cross at redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or text CAWILDFIRES to 90999.
DirectRelief - Direct Relief is providing medications, N95 respirators, and aid to communities affected by Southern California wildfires. 100% of donations to their wildfire response fund support individuals in Palisades, Altadena, and across California.
Emergency Network Los Angeles, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit aiding disaster-affected communities. Funded by grants, member dues, and donations, ENLA relies on contributions to make a difference.
Global Empowerment Mission - LA County Wildfire - A multi phase response to helping a disaster the area that starts off with gift-cards for those in need to get what they need, and expands into rebuilding later on.
What individual can I help?
Check in on anyone you know who lives in Los Angeles; they will know someone, or know someone’s someone.
Here’s that list.
Gofundmes:
Note: No one fund is “better” than the other.
Firefighters
Eaton Fire Victims
Support Colleen and Adrian: Recovering from Fire in Altadena
Support the Lansdown Family Following the Eaton Fire Tragedy
Who did we donate to?
Our household donated to:
Absolutely excellent resource. Thank you so much. May I share this on LinkedIn?
p.s. for all those who have checked in on me and my wife, thank you! We're safe.