Support Wildfire Victims
What is the current status of the fires?
The main fires that have been causing chaos are the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, and Auto Fire. The Hurst Fire, one of the smaller fires compared to the others, burned a total of 799 acres before being 100% contained. The Archer Fire burned 19 acres and was 100% contained 24 hours after it started. The Palisades Fire is currently at 23,713 acres burned and 63% containment, while the Eaton fire is 14,021 acres burned and 89% contained.
How badly have these areas been affected?
Fires cause critical amounts of damage, not only to homes but buildings nearby as well like businesses, hospitals, schools, and can also damage the trees and animals that surround the area. So many warnings have been sent out about the air quality and high wind warnings that have been a product and cause for these fires spreading so much. According to NBC News,”The wildfires burning in Southern California have burned around 40,000 acres and leveled entire neighborhoods, making once-vibrant areas appear more like war zones.”
What can we expect in the future? How to prepare?
With the current dry conditions and the strong Santa Ana winds, fires are more likely to break out and spread across land. Cal Fire has shared a step by step plan on their website on how many families and communities can prepare themselves by creating a plan and preparing supplies for these stressful times. The three main steps include “Get Ready” which entails members of the community to think ahead with things like buying fire resistant materials and hardware. The second step is “Get Set” where families are encouraged to make a plan on what to do if a fire does happen. “Be Ready To Go” is the last step and sounds exactly like what it is, planning a way to escape and where to go if the fires are spreading closer to the house.
How to help?
Things are all over the place and many that have been affected by the fires are filled with distress and fear. This is your time to help your community. Members of the community can help by donating some supplies to fire departments, shelter areas, or local hospitals. Organizations like the Red Cross and the California Fire Foundation are there helping victims of the wildfires and can always use an extra hand or supplies. Raising awareness and helping in whatever way possible is what will help stop these fires from continuing and will help those in need from these tragic moments. “Families are depending on the Red Cross for assistance now, and your support is crucial,” from the American Red Cross.
Find a way to help, someone out there needs it.
