On January 7, 2025, the first of numerous devastating wildfires began to spread through California and decimate people’s property, belongings, and lives. While many are already aware of the tragedies that have taken and continue to take place in California as a result of the wildfires, some remain uninformed about the best ways to help victims.
The wildfires have killed at least 29 people and forced tens of thousands of inhabitants in and around the Los Angeles area to evacuate from their homes. There are a total of 319 separate wildfires that are currently active, and 6,255 structures have already been destroyed. On top of that, nearly 58,000 acres of land have been burned, with 23,400 of those acres being burned by the Palisades Fire. These fires were likely caused by abnormally high wind speeds coupled with dry air and vegetation due to drought. The combination of these factors provides the optimal environment for a fire to start, and that is just what occurred in California. However, the fires have recently begun to ease and become more contained. Nevertheless, the damage has already been done; communities have been torn apart, people have been ripped from their homes, and livelihoods have been devastated.
There are several ways for people in New York to provide support for victims of the wildfires. First, there are many different funds that are open for donations. The California Fire Foundation has a Wildfire Disaster Relief Fund that offers financial support to California residents impacted by the fires. Another California-based organization is the California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund which targets hard to reach communities with the goal of providing long-term relief. The CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation is another fund available for donations that does not assist victims but rather the firefighters working tirelessly to stop the spread of these wildfires. The organization supports firefighters and their families by providing them with funding for recovery from injuries and other detrimental impacts that they may have experienced while combating the fires. Finally, another compelling organization is the Best Friends Animal Society which focuses on providing emergency assistance for animals who have been impacted by the wildfires.
While all of the aforementioned organizations are national, there are several more local organizations in New York that anyone can get involved in. For example, from January 13 to March 3, Kancil, a highly rated Malaysian restaurant on the Upper East Side, is donating 50% of its daily proceeds to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation. Similarly, Rogue, a small vintage clothing store with two New York City locations, both on the Lower East Side, is accepting clothing donations and encouraging New Yorkers to drop off gently used clothing for California residents who have lost many of their belongings due to the wildfires. Lastly, on January 30, several of New York’s most popular businesses, such as 63 Clinton and Hometown BBQ, gathered for a walk-around tasting fundraiser, all the proceeds of which went to the California Fire and California Community Foundations.
Although California is a six-hour plane ride away from New York, there are still several ways to assist those impacted by the recent wildfires from the East Coast. By simply donating a few dollars, dining at a restaurant that gives some of its proceeds to relief efforts, or giving away some old clothes, anyone can help advance recovery operations. Even small contributions can play a large role in supporting those affected by the wildfires.
