The fires consuming Los Angeles are hard to fathom from the wintery cold across the country — until you see the hellscape images and videos that have made their way everywhere.
The damage is intense. Entire neighborhoods — with homes, businesses and longtime community stalwarts — have burned to the ground. Close to 20,000 acres have burned (and growing), consuming 2,000 buildings (as of Thursday morning) and forcing some 130,000 people from every strata of the city to evacuate.
The Palisades and Eaton fires alone make the worst fire event in L.A. history — which is saying something — and it’s not over yet.
Here are some ways to help:
Directly support families through Go Fund Me
The crowdfunding platform has launched a Wildfire Relief Fund page with private campaigns that Go Fund Me’s Trust & Safety team has verified. Most are for families who’ve lost everything in the fires; others are for organizations helping on the ground. More campaigns continue to be added as they are created and checked.
Or, make a tax-deductible donation to Go Fund Me’s own Wildfire Relief Fund 2025 to help the company directly send money to people in need. (As of Thursday morning, the fund had raised $91,000 of its $100,000 goal, mostly through small donations.)
Help with recovery efforts through California Community Foundation
The organization’s Wildlife Recovery Fund distributes money to vetted local groups that will help communities with “mid-term to long-term recovery efforts” after the fires have been put out and attention has gone elsewhere. As of Thursday morning, the foundation had raised more than $600,000 — and growing.
Support firefighters through Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation
The Foundation helps equip firefighters with equipment and other supplies to keep them safe, including emergency fire shelters to protect them in case they are overrun by flames and hydration backpacks.
Help provide medical supplies through Direct Relief
The nonprofit that brings humanitarian relief efforts to areas affected by tragedies is bringing medical supplies to first responders and residents, including N95 respirators to help those affected by the intense smoke.
Help animals through Pasadena Humane
L.A.’s humane society has taken in hundreds of pets from families unable to take their animals with them when forced to evacuate. They are treating those with burns in their ICU, and sending healthy ones to shelters across the state to temporarily care for them. They need more funds to keep the rescue work going around the clock.
Provide new homes through Habitat for Humanity L.A.
The national organization that builds homes alongside people in need — those who earn 50 to 120 percent of the median family income — in one of the most expensive cities in the country will have a lot of work to do in the months ahead.
Help Angelenos with emotional needs through National Alliance on Mental Illness Greater Los Angeles County
The local chapter of the organization powers help lines and other resources for Angelenos struggling with mental and emotional issues — something that no doubt will be increasingly needed in the weeks and months ahead.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP OTHERS