The fires that impacted the Los Angeles area in early January, especially the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, have displaced thousands of people destroying or damaging more than 16,000 homes and businesses and burning more than 40,000 acres.
This is an ongoing emergency that will last long after the fires are fully extinguished. People will still need ongoing assistance after the spotlight shifts from the L.A. region.
To submit information about fundraising events or other ways to assist fire victims email info@scvtv.com
How to Help
Help with food, housing, pets and a host of other needs will be ongoing for victims of the fires. Here’s where to start:
The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley is collecting gift cards to assist club families impacted by the recent Los Angeles area fires. Grocery gift cards are the most requested.
Drop off donations at the Newhall and Canyon Country Clubhouse locations or contribute and the club will purchase and hand-deliver gift cards directly to Boys & Girls Clubs for distribution in their communities.
To make a donation online choose the category “other” and enter the dollar amount. In the “My Donation is for” field enter “Fire Relief Gift Cards.”
The most requested gift cards requested are for grocery stores, gasoline and clothing stores.
James T. Ventress Clubhouse
24909 Newhall Ave.,
Newhall, CA 91321
(661) 254-2582
Thomas E. Dierckman Clubhouse
19425 Stillmore St.,
Canyon Country, CA 91351
(661) 251-6017
The College of the Canyons Foundation, in response to the Los Angeles wildfires, has created the Cougars Care Emergency Fund to help COC students who have lost everything.
The donations will:
Help displaced students.
Provide essential items like food, clothing and school supplies.
Ease the burden of rebuilding lives.
No amount is too small and every donation is a step toward hope and recovery for students in need.
The American Red Cross has been providing food and shelter to wildfire victims. In addition, financial assistance programs have been launched for all households within the wildfire perimeters.
Financial assistance empowers families to take control of their recovery and decide their next steps by helping to replace clothing, secure new housing or offset any other critical needs. Donate at www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/.
Recovering emotionally after a disaster is as important as financial help, to reach out for free 24/7 counseling or support, call or text the multilingual Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990.
The Salvation Army is working to provide services at Red Cross Evacuation Centers to individuals impacted by the fires. They will also help provide long-term relief to fire victims. Donate at https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/.
Volunteer at a L.A. County Department of Animal Care and Control Center. The Santa Clarita Valley animal shelter is located in Castaic. For information visit https://animalcare.lacounty.gov/become-a-volunteer/.
Castaic Animal Care Center Reopened
The Castaic Animal Care Center is back up and running after animals that were evacuated to the Lancaster shelter due to the Hughes Fire last month returned to Castaic on Saturday, Feb. 1, shelter officials said.
Help homeless animals in Los Angeles County, as well as those displaced by the fires, by donating to the Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation at https://lacountyanimals.org.
World Central Kitchen is on the ground feeding many displaced residents and recovery workers in the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire areas.
Donate at https://donate.wck.org/. There is a button to donate directly to benefit its efforts in California.
GoFundMe pages have sprung up for many of the individuals and families impacted by the fires. Some of these pages may not be legitimate- so be sure to check with friends and family to find out if they know people who need help, and how you can best make a direct contribution to individuals in need.
GoFundMe has also created a page of links to fundraisers who have been reviewed and verified by their Trust and Safety team.
The California Community Foundation has a long history of making a direct and meaningful impact on individuals and families in need, ensuring that support reaches those most affected. Since 2003, the CCF Wildfire Recovery Fund has provided over $30 million to communities affected by disasters.
Project HOPE is on the ground in Los Angeles, actively distributing hygiene kits to displaced families and children, procuring high-need items for shelters and health clinics, supporting health workers administering care to people affected, and mobilizing mental health support in response to the historic fires, which continue to decimate communities and displace tens of thousands of people. Your emergency gift to our California Wildfire Emergency Response will help rush urgent aid and supplies to survivors of these devastating fires.
Unfortunately, after every emergency event there are scammers who seek to benefit from people who want to help, stealing from them and intercepting funds meant for the victims of the disaster. Before you give, you must verify your money is going where you intend it to go.
One of the best places to verify that a request for help is legitimate is Charity Navigator, www.charitynavigator.org.
This website offers comprehensive ratings that shine a light on the cost-effectiveness and overall health of a charity’s programs, including measures of stability, efficiency and sustainability. The metrics inform donors of not just where their dollars are going, but what their dollars are doing.
Visit the Charity Navigator page of highly rated charities providing relief and recovery to those impacted by the L.A. area fires.
Deal only with licensed contractors. Ask to see the contractor’s “pocket license,” together with other identification. Be suspicious if the person claims to be representing a contractor, but cannot show you a contractor’s license or home improvement salesperson registration card.
Get the contractor’s license number and call the Contractor’s State License Board’s toll-free automated telephone number at 1-800-321-2752 to verify that the license is valid, or log onto the Internet and access their website at www.cslb.ca.gov for the information.
Beware of these signs of fraud:
The contractor does not maintain a local work office and/or does not have a local telephone number.
The contractor is not able or willing to provide references.
The contractor’s place of contact is a hotel, tavern, work truck, or another place that is not his/her place of employment or residence.
The contractor handles all business in person, avoiding the use of the mail.
The contractor wants a full cash payment up-front.
The contractor does not have adequate equipment to perform the job.
The contractor arrives at a loss site (home or business) without being solicited.
The contractor’s estimate is very general.
The contractor does not have a contractor’s license bond.
The contractor is unwilling to provide a certificate of insurance from his/her general liability or workers compensation insurance carrier.
The contractor’s bid is far below the bids you have received from other contractors. The old adage “if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is” applies here.
Price Gouging
Price gouging is against the law for most goods, services and rental housing.
The California Department of Real Estate reminds licensees and consumers that price gouging is a criminal offense in counties where a state of emergency has been declared.
The anti-price gouging law is triggered when the emergency declaration is issued and applies to rental housing, including hotels and motels, as well as consumer food items and other goods and services and continues for 30 days from the date of that declaration, unless it is extended.
To protect California consumers affected by wildfires, the California Department of Real Estate will diligently investigate complaints of unlawful price gouging related to rental housing by licensees and will take appropriate disciplinary action if the evidence warrants.
The law (Penal Code section 396) is intended to protect victims of disasters from being further harmed.
Price gouging is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment for up to one year. Charges of unlawful business practices can also be brought against licensees who violate anti-price gouging laws.
If you are a consumer who believes they may be a victim of price gouging as it relates to real estate transactions and rental housing, complaints can be submitted to the Department of Real Estate at:
California Attorney General Bob Bonta has also vowed to fight price gouging. To report price gouging visit oag.ca.gov/report.
State Expands Support for SoCal Wildfire Victims
n the wake of the devastating fires in Southern California and as part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s proclaimed State of Emergency and Executive Order, the California Department of Public Health is taking steps to support and make things easier for Californians as recovery continues across the region.
These efforts span the department’s many public health programs and include issuing widespread approval for expanded response, eliminating or limiting fees and processes, expanding areas of coverage and more.
“Across our entire department, our teams are working toward the shared goal of supporting Californians impacted by these wildfires and easing their pain in whatever ways possible,” said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer, Dr. Tomás Aragón. “Public health isn’t just about supporting physical health, but also mental health, document recovery, food supply, logistics, recovery safety, and other essential needs.”
CDPH understands that recovering from these wildfires will be challenging and has developed a single online space for wildfire response information: go.cdph.ca.gov/wildfires.
Expanded Capacity at Health Care Facilities
CDPH, which oversees hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and more care access points across the state, has coordinated with local public health and emergency response teams to facilitate and ensure proper transfer of individuals in health care facilities to safe and secure locations.
More than 130 long-term care residents have been transferred to safety and CDPH continues to work with 120 facilities across the region to assess additional capacity and other facility needs.
CDPH issued blanket approval for these facilities in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties to quickly add bed capacity and services to their licenses. The blanket approval also allows facilities to set up additional beds in areas not traditionally used for patient rooms.
This approval allows for more rapid and expanded coverage and an increased ability to serve residents and patients that have been evacuated.
CDPH is providing guidance through All Facilities Letters for these facilities on how to submit additional waiver requests. These waivers are designed to support all facilities experiencing fire and windstorm related surges in capacity, as well as those dealing with staffing shortages due to impacted personnel.
Replacement of Vital Documents
CDPH is waving all fees for the replacement of certificates of birth, death, marriage, and dissolution of marriage records for any individual or family who loses these items as a result of the fires.
CDPH can process requests to replace documents in as little as two to three days and is offering expanded on-site services at Disaster Recovery Centers and Local Assistance Centers across Southern California.
These documents can be critical during recovery and rebuilding, and CDPH is working to ensure that all individuals who need replacements are able to receive them quickly and at no cost.
Continued Benefits to WIC Families Impacted by the Fires
CDPH’s California Women, Infants and Children program offers eligible families access to healthy food and resources. CDPH is committed to ensuring WIC families continue to receive the benefits of this vital program.
WIC participants who have lost their WIC Card or WIC foods should contact their local WIC office which can be found online at MyFamily.WIC.ca.gov.
WIC families who have been dislocated by the fires and are staying in an area that is not near their regular WIC office or WIC grocer can find a nearby location finder at MyFamily.WIC.ca.gov.
Addressing Health Risks Posed by Wildfires
CDPH staff are on the ground in affected areas, working hand-in-hand with local, state, and federal partners to assess and mitigate the risks posed by the aftermath of a fire. This includes supporting coordinated guidance on soil, air, water quality and the safe handling of debris.
Coordinating Emergency Response and Recovery Efforts
CDPH is working with local, regional, state and federal partners to support wildfire response and recovery efforts.
CDPH activated the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program. People affected by the wildfire who need help filling prescriptions or getting medical equipment can locate participating pharmacies online.
CDPH has provided resource requests for personal protective equipment such as N95 respirators, medical and health staffing resources and comfort kits.
CDPH is coordinating with state, local and federal partners on recovery efforts to restore healthcare facilities and to address the risks to public health caused by the wildfires.
The state is dedicated to promoting and protecting the health of all Californians and is actively working to support those individuals and communities suffering from the devastating effects of the wildfires in Southern California. CDPH’s mission is to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities. That includes providing additional flexibilities, on-the-ground support and more in the face of disasters and challenges like these fires.
Californians can go to CA.gov/LAfires, a hub for information and resources from state, local and federal government.
Covered California recently announced a special-enrollment period for residents of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. This special enrollment period will last until March 8. Resources are available through Los Angeles County and the State of California. Of the 1.3 million uninsured Californians who qualify for subsidies through Covered California or are eligible for Medi-Cal coverage, 356,000 of them reside in Southern California.
California has developed resource guides to help guide people through disasters and provide information on the different types of federal, state, and local services available in California:
Through the BenefitsCal portal, Californians can get and manage benefits online. This includes food assistance (CalFresh) formerly food stamps, cash aid (CalWORKs, General Assistance, Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants), and affordable health insurance (Medi-Cal).
Individuals and business owners who sustained losses from wildfires in Los Angeles County can apply for disaster assistance:
A “significant amount of smoke” from the Windy and KNP Complex fires northeast of Bakersfield in the Sequoia National Forest have entered the Los Angeles area, according to a Thursday morning tweet from the U.S. National Weather Service Los Angeles.
Due to the ongoing fires in the Santa Clarita Valley, the William S. Hart Union High School Saugus Union School, Newhall, Sulphur Spring Union, Castaic Union School districts and their district offices will be closed on Friday, Oct. 25.
Two electrical vault fires broke out late Tuesday morning, resulting in a rapid response from Los Angeles County Fire Department officials.
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