on the los angeles fires + resources to donate
checking in from la...
content warning: pictures of burning buildings in los angeles below.
hi darlings,
i wanted to write you to quickly check in. first — a happy new year, happy 2025. i know i’m days late to that greeting at this point, but it’s been a bit of a chaotic start to this new year.
i’m also writing as kate and i check in from los angeles.
i know some of you are checking in from around the country — or around the world (hi martina!) and i cannot put my gratitude into words for everyone who has checked in. thank you, you seriously do not know how much it has meant to me 🫶
for a bit of context on the situation, strong winds began in southern california on tuesday, and fires kicked up in heavy brush areas quickly after. there hasn’t been any rain in los angeles for months, and even though i’ve lived through years of the drought in california, i could feel it was particularly bad this time.
the city has been ravaged by fires on all sides — the first breaking in the pacific palisades. the current map of that fire is at this government site. my partner, kevin, and i watched as the fire began in the palisades. he went to help his parents gather crucial family documents and belongings from their house in the canyon.
as i write this on thursday afternoon, the fire has burnt through 19,978 acres.
i have friends and coworkers who are affected, as well as my partner’s family. they are safely evacuated, thank god, but the fire is still burning with 0% containment.
here are two satellite images of pacific coast highway in malibu, the left taken on october 20, 2024 and the right on january 8, 2025.
another fire erupted in altadena at eaton canyon later the same day, on tuesday evening. it started within miles of my childhood home where my family still lives. i’m happy to write that my family and our pets have all evacuated and are safe.
the government site for the eaton fire is here. as i write this, the eaton fire has burnt through 13,690 acres.
it feels very strange seeing places i grew up with burning to the ground and not being able to do anything — feeling very helpless.
a favorite coffee shop i just visited over the holidays, cafe de leche, burnt down, along with other wonderful businesses, both new and old, on the same street. places i visited as a passenger in the backseat as a child and in the driver’s seat as an adult, gone in a matter of hours. places i knew my entire life disintegrating into ash.
my heart continues to break for everyone affected in all of los angeles.
ultimately, i’m here to share resources i’ve come across. even if you aren’t in la, if you are able to donate, anything is greatly appreciated by all!
for general resources, donation links, and gofundmes:
from MALAN, the mutual aid la network: a google sheet of resources throughout la county
the same list from MALAN on google maps (fire aid)
california fire foundation website
pasadena humane society — instagram & donation link, they are caring for pets who have been affected by the fires or displaced and are evacuating animals that are stuck
airbnb is offering temporary housing to people impacted by the la wildfires
gofundme - wildlife relief fund 2025
lafd foundation linktree, with donation links and other helpful links
a large gofundme landing page for relief for families affected
cafe de leche employees gofundme
help clean the palisades gofundme
pro bono therapy for the la wildfires — a great google sheet!
eaton fire resources and funraisers — large google sheet!
eaton fire - impacted mayfield alums (my + kate’s high school!) - google sheet
the altadena teen girls fire recovery — instagram page run by a teen girl from altadena named avery colvert. they are offering in person donations in los angeles! she is an inspiration!
the animation guild (tag) wildfire relief fund
LA pottery studio, pot, is offering free classes for people that lost their homes and businesses in the fire.
to families + businesses in los angeles:
linktree to a list of dedicated gofundmes directly from affected residents of altadena and pasadena
minik market gofundme — they just opened in our neighborhood last summer
gofundme link for nicole, a business owner in pasadena who has lost her home
a google sheet of more gofundmes to individual families in pasadena & altadena
help roland rebuild gofundme
help chenae rebuild after eaton fire gofundme
help allyce e. rebuild after the eaton fire gofundme
aid the astalis family: fire recover gofundme
support randy and melinda wiggins recovery journey gofundme
help the micheros rebuild after fire loss gofundme
help ms. sanavio rebuild her family home after eaton fire gofundme
direct aid for folks impacted by socal fires gofundme
help restore our beloved masjid in altadena launchgood
support my family's recovery from los angeles fires, Ari Sallus gofundme
support seema and emily after the eaton fire gofundme
julia goss and goss family: eaton fire recovery fund gofundme
help the guzman family recover from the eaton fire gofundme
donate to support zach springer's recovery from eaton fire gofundme
help the young family after altadena eaton canyon fires gofundme
help the ramirez family who lost everything in eaton fire gofundme
help the dale family survive the palisades fire gofundme
support fran & tim smiland after losing home to eaton fire gofundme
help sammy and paul rebuild after fire gofundme
support the zweigs after fire loss gofundme
rebuilding hope for the steger family gofundme
help the mockary family rebuild after fire gofundme
help the morales family rebuild after the eaton fire gofundme
help the walker family rebuild after fire gofundme
help tonita recover from fire disaster gofundme
help my mom rebuild after la wildfires gofundme
help the thomas-sand family recover from the eaton fire gofundme
rebuild home and hope for the abdus-shakoors gofundme
assist little rayv’s family after fire gofundme
support the kopplin family’s recovery gofundme
help jennifer wood after the altadena wildfire gofundme
help daniel & paula recover after fire gofundme
three generations of homes lost to the eaton fire gofundme
la firefighter and single dad to toddler needs our help gofundme
support nick & bix after losing their home in the eaton fire gofundme
support a friend's recovery from fire loss gofundme
help the gatmaitan family recover after wildfire gofundme
help my mom rebuild after la wildfires gofundme
help tamara greggs & family after la fires gofundme
rally for chef paul: altaeats under fire gofundme
help the benn family after the altadena fire gofundme
fire relief aid for hernandez family and their neighbors gofundme
help glendar haskin restart after eaton fire loss gofundme
help len and carol rebuild after wildfire gofundme
aid "o happy days vegan cafe" recovery: cafe and home lost gofundme
assist cheryl conley & carl jones recover from the fire! gofundme
support the mayorga and jimenez family after eaton fire loss gofundme
there’s also a new google sheet of places to volunteer if you are in los angeles and wanting to get involved — link here!
if anyone has any resources they’d like to add to this, please dm, text, or email me and i can add them here and update this as the list grows.
ali labelle, rachel davies, and cat chen shared information and lists, that i’m now sharing as well, here:
another great resource is this pdf “where to start after a devastating fire” if you, your family, or any of your loved ones have been impacted by these fires.
it’s been very painful to watch all the devastation, but the outpouring of love and support from people has been beautiful. i can only imagine how long the rebuilding efforts will take, but i will be there in any capacity i can be.
if anyone needs anything at all, my messages are open and i’m here to help in any way, shape, or form i can. please stay safe.
x, your pal al + my sister and guest contributor kate
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Wow this is astonishing. Glad to hear your family is safe
thank you for sharing these resources, and i am so glad your family is safe ❤️