LOLZLetter 307 | How You Can Help California Wildfire Victims
Welcome,
This week is dedicated to helping wildfire victims. Thank you to everyone who asked, but my husband and I are located about 40 miles straight north of the fires. There are fires (Lydia, Eaton) in the mountains that separate us from Los Angeles. I have run in several areas that are completely burned down. I ran a track 5000 at a school in Pacific Palisades, and one of my favorite 10ks was also in Pacific Palisades. I've spent time in Altadena.
For those who don't know, it is not simply "the rich" who have lost homes. That is the narrative being pushed by a lot of media, and yes, Pacific Palisades is a very affluent town, but there are so many more "normal" people who have lost everything.
At least 24 people have lost their lives, and over 150,000 residents have evacuated.
How did this happen?
January is not a typical "big fire month." We had one of the driest springs and summers on record. It meant the area was primed for a longer and harder fire season. Combined with extreme winds over the last few days, once fires started, it has been hard to put them out.
If you’re not from around here, you might not realize just how unique the wind conditions are that make these fires so destructive.
There are two types of winds that contributed:
The infamous Santa Ana winds. Santa Ana winds are powerful, with gusts often exceeding 60 miles per hour. They typically blow east to west, and there's a reason one of the biggest U.S. wind farms is in the desert.
These winds originate in the desert to the east and get hotter and drier as they rush toward Southern California. In addition to just being windy, they take even more moisture out of the air. We don't have a lot of lush forests in SoCal. In fact, most of the landscape is full of highly flammable scrub that regrows quickly after every fire, setting the stage for the next blaze.
The second type of wind is far less common but even more extreme: the mountain wave. As the winds rise over the mountains, they can encounter a stable air barrier. The mountain wave winds are then directed to the surface, creating the wave-like pattern of strong wind gusts. If you're flying, it causes turbulence. Wind gusts near the base of the mountains can exceed 100 mph.
Both winds were present, making the fire almost unstoppable. Think about it: embers can travel over a mile within a minute...how do you contain that? You can google images of embers flying through the air but it’s terrifying.
This disaster isn’t due to incompetence. It's next to impossible to stop those fires quickly when embers are blowing at 60 miles per hour.
Also, a municipal water system isn’t designed to fight a firestorm. Nowhere lost water, but it was impossible to get that much pressure to so many areas. It’s built to handle house fires and keep the taps running.
Finally, I have no interest in making this political, so if you plan to do that... please don't.
How can you help?
California Fire Foundation Wildfire & Disaster Relief Fund
This organization partners with local fire agencies and community groups to provide both immediate and long-term support to communities affected by wildfires.
Best Friends Animal Society, which operates a pet adoption center in West Los Angeles, has announced that all donations will go toward providing emergency assistance for animals affected by the wildfires.
World Central Kitchen
Founded by chef José Andrés, World Central Kitchen is providing meals to first responders and evacuees. Their teams are delivering sandwiches and water.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army’s disaster services fund supports evacuees and first responders affected by California wildfires. They provide emergency relief as well as long-term assistance to those in need.
GoFundMe
GoFundMe has created a hub of verified fundraising campaigns to support wildfire victims. The platform’s 2025 Wildfire Relief Fund ensures that donations go directly to impacted individuals.
California Community Foundation
Their Wildfire Recovery Fund focuses on underserved communities, helping to provide long-term recovery assistance and support.
League of California Community Foundations
The League of California Community Foundations, a group of nonprofit organizations across the state, is coordinating relief efforts. Funds raised in past disasters have been used to rebuild homes, replace lost belongings, and offer support services.
CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation
So many firefighters have been hard at work since the very beginning with very few breaks. This organization offers financial aid to firefighters and their families in cases of injury or loss of life. The foundation also supports burn victims and funds research to improve firefighter health and safety.
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
If you're local, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is accepting food donations and volunteers.
Pasadena Humane Society has taken over 400 animal victims and needs monetary donations. In some good news, there was such a turnout of item donations, they do not have room to accept more right now.
Every contribution makes a difference in helping communities recover and rebuild. If you have other sources to help, please share!
What's Keeping Me Entertained?
NBC News: How to Help Wildfire Victims
Thank you for including orgs that help the animal victims!