The devastating L.A. County wildfires have impacted thousands of people. They've lost homes, precious belongings and memories, and, in a few tragic cases, loved ones. If you need help, or know of someone who does, this resource guide can assist you. Or, if you want to volunteer or donate, there is plenty of information on how to do that, too.
If you need more personalized help with homes for rent or making a longer-term move, or anything at all, please don't hesitate to call or text me at (310) 666-5052. I'm not just here as a realtor but also a 26-year resident of Los Angeles, and I want to help and support our community in any way I can.
Updated: January 15, 2025
AIR QUALITY + BURN SITE SAFETY
As the fires continue to shrink in size, the air quality measured by sites like AirNow and Purple Air will show that the air quality has improved. And it has! However, even though the wood ash and other particulates have fallen within safe parameters, their instruments cannot measure toxic materials like lead, copper, plastic, and asbestos released into the atmosphere from the burned structures. It is highly recommended that you wear a NIOSH-approved N95 mask due to this toxic dust, which can be blown into the air by the winds scooping it up from the burn areas.
When visiting a burned structure, please use caution and do not enter if the structure seems unsafe. A lot of the things in our homes will release toxic materials into the air or remain as dust until disturbed, so please wear a respirator/N95 mask, goggles, gloves, hazmat coveralls or work clothes, and thick-soled boots/shoes that you can wash or leave outside your home (or better yet bag up before getting back into your car) to keep you safe.
ALERTS + FIRE & SMOKE MAPS
WATCH DUTY APP
- Provides real-time wildfire information, alerts, evacuation and shelter info. Available on web browser or iPhone/Android apps stores.
CAL FIRE | Department of Forestry & Fire Protection
- Up-to-date status on specific wildfire incidents, evacuation zones & warnings, shelters, road closures, animal shelters, and more. Check out their website.
FIRE DAMAGE MAPS
- LA County is working to update the people living in evacuation zones about the status of their homes. It is a work in progress, but you can search for information about your home address for Eaton and Palisades' fires.
LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT
- Up-to-date information on active incidents and safety advisories on their website. You can also register your contact information for alerts.
ALERT LA COUNTY
- A mass notification program that allows individuals to receive emergency alerts by text, email and/or phone call. Also has accessibility features for people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. Register here.
AIR NOW & PURPLE AIR
- Monitor the air quality in your area with sites like Air Now and Purple Air. But remember, these will not monitor toxic materials released from the fires such as lead, copper, plastic, or asbestos. Masking outdoors is recommended.
DISASTER & FINANCIAL AID
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
- FEMA can help cover costs but you must first apply for FEMA disaster assistance. They also offers program to assist those displaced by the wildfires, including funds for uninsured or under-insured disaster-caused expenses and serious needs.
STATE OF CALIFORNIA WEBSITE
- California has compiled a list of resources and information to help victim of the wildfires get assistance. Check out their site.
DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS
- Currently there are two physical locations. One on the Westside and one of the Eastside. You can also visit their website which provides a wide array of assistance covering temporary housing, FEMA walkthroughs, assistance for business owners and workers, shelter info, and much more.
MUTUAL AID OF LOS ANGELES NETWORK
- MALAN compiles and updates a list of available resources, where to find them, and when they're open to receive you.
CA DEPT. OF SOCIAL SERVICES | DISASTER SERVICES BRANCH
- Can provide grant assistance through their State Supplemental Grant Program (SSGP) and the Disaster Case Manager Program (DCMP).
MISFORTUNE AND CALAMITY PROPERTY TAX RELIEF
- Property owners affected by the fires can receive temporary tax relief until the repairs or rebuild are completed. The damage must exceed $10,000 in the current market value of the property, and claims must be filed within 12 months of the date of the damage. Check out the state website for more info.
FREE MEALS & FOOD
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN
- WCK is serving free meals to first responders and community members impacted by the Southern California wildfires. Find a location.
SECRET LOS ANGELES
- The online guide, Secret Los Angeles, has compiled a list of restaurants offering free food to evacuees and/or first responders.
LOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOOD BANK
- Use their Pantry Finder to find a location near you.
211 LA Service
- Visit their website or dial 211 to locate free groceries and more.
HOUSING
AIRBNB
- AirBNB partnered with 211 LA to provide free, emergency housing for people who have been displaced by the fires and first responders. If you need housing, fill out 211's Intake Form.
AMERICAN RED CROSS
- Use their search tool to find open shelters and disaster relief services.
HOTELS & MOTELS
- Check out this list of places offering discounted room rates for displaced wildfire victims.
SHELTERS
- Check the shelter lists on the Cal Fire and Watch Duty websites, or text "SHELTER (your zip code)" to 43362, which is FEMA.
L.A. LEASES (aka Apartments and Homes for rent)
- Check out their website to see what's available. You can search by neighborhood, furnished or not, pet friendly, and more.
🚨 WARNING 🚨 Be on the look out for "price gouging". If you experience or witness an incident of price gouging over rental or room rates, you can report it online, email [email protected], or call (800) 593-8222. This applies to items for sale as well as housing.
ANIMAL SHELTERS
- CAL FIRE & WATCH DUTY APP | The Cal Fire and Watch Duty websites provide updated lists of large and small animal shelters.
- L.A. COUNTY ANIMAL CARE | Check their website for a list of large and small animal shelters.
MENTAL HEALTH
- List of therapists offering pro-bono sessions
- FEMA Mental Health Counseling
- FEMA Hotline (call/text) - (800) 985-5990 | 24/7, multi-lingual
OTHER RESOURCES
- Updated school closures
- Updated power outages
- Updated road closures
- Updated evacuation map
PLACES TO DONATE MONEY
- Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation Emergency Fund or text "LAFD" to 24365.
- Global Giving's California Wildfire Relief Fund
- California Fire Foundation
- California Community Foundation's Wildfire Recovery Fund
- California Fire Foundation's Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency (SAVE) program
- SoCal Fire Fund to support students, school employees, and families.
- Habitat LA Wildfire Relief Fund
- World Kitchen Southern California Relief Fund
- Los Angeles Food Bank
- Direct Relief’s California Fire Fund
- Inclusive Action’s Open Air Worker Emergency Fund
- Pasadena Village's Relief Fund
- Flintridge Center's Dena Fire Relief Fund
- Color the Water’s LA Fire Support Fund
- Social Justice Learning Institute (select “General” and leave a comment stating that you want your donation used for mutual aid.)
- PATH to support its emergency response efforts.
- Anti-Recidivism Coalition to support incarcerated firefighters (write "Firefighter fund" in the donation comments).
- YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles
- Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation to provide for pets that are left behind or separated from their human families.
- No Res Gourmet's LA Fires Emergency Relief Effort.
- Pasadena Humane to help purchase medical supplies for burned and injured animals.
- NHS LA Wildfires Fund
- Friends of GALA's Community Fire Relief Fund to support the school's impacted families.
- AREAA Foundation's Los Angeles Wildfires Campaign
- Altadena Girls to help the teenage victims of the Eaton Fire.
- Donate to verified fundraisers via Pledge.
- Donate to verified GoFundMe’s of people affected by the fires.
WAYS TO VOLUNTEER
- Volunteer Opportunities Spreadsheet
- Modern Luxury Angeleno's list of 15 places to volunteer
- Foster or volunteer to help displaced animals
- Offer Pro-Bono Therapy (Mental Health Professionals Only)
- Offer a place to stay for free or at a discount by signing up to host with AirBNB
If you want to suggest a resource, suggest an edit, or correct something I may have gotten wrong, please let me know.