LOS ANGELES WILDFIRE RESOURCE GUIDE
RightNow News and The Bianca Rae Foundation are committed to helping victims of the LA fires recover and rebuild. This guide provides essential resources for those affected and ways for the community to contribute. You can support wildfire victims by donating to trust, relief, organizations or supplying necessities like food, clothing, and hygiene products. Volunteers play a vital role in recovery efforts, including distributing supplies and assisting with rebuilding. Even if you can’t contribute directly, spreading awareness and sharing verified resources can make a meaningful difference. Together, we can bring hope and healing to those in need.
Created by RightNow New, in partnership with the Bianca Rae Foundation
HOW TO HELP VICTIMS OF THE LA FIRES
HANDS TO HEARTS
Are you in need of a care package or are you able to "adopt a family" and send them one? Fill out this form and we will connect helping hands with hearts in need.
AMERICAN RED CROSS
The Red Cross is providing shelter, food, and relief supplies to people affected by the California Wildfires. Donate today to help enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster.
PASADENA
HUMANE SOCIETY
Pasadena Humane has taken in over 400 animals from the Eaton Fire Emergency. They are desperately in need of monetary donations to help them purchase medical supplies and other resources.
BABY2BABY
Baby2Baby has already distributed one million emergency supplies for the most vulnerable children and families who have lost everything including diapers, food, formula, water, clothing, blankets and hygiene products.
SHELTERS
PALISADES
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Calvary Community Church, at 5495 Via Rocas in Westlake Village.
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Westwood Recreation Center, at 1350 S. Sepulveda Blvd. The shelter also accepts small animals.
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Ritchie Valens Recreation Center, at 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd. in Pacoima.
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Stoner Recreation Center, at 1835 Stoner Ave.
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El Camino Real Charter High School, at 5440 Valley Circle Blvd., Woodland Hills. The shelter also accepts small animals.
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Pasadena Convention Center, at 300 E. Green St.
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Lanark Recreation Center, 21816 Lanark St., Canoga Park.
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Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Recreation Center, 14201 Huston St., Sherman Oaks.
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Small animals are being accepted at the following locations:
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El Camino High School, 5440 Valley Circle Blvd., Woodland Hills
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Agoura Animal Care Center, 29525 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills
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Baldwin Park Animal Care Center, 4275 Elton St., Baldwin Park
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Carson Animal Care Center, 216 W. Victoria St., Gardena
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Castaic Animal Care Center, 31044 Charlie Canyon, Castaic
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Downey Animal Care Center, 11258 Garfield Ave., Downey
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Lancaster Animal Care Center, 5210 W. Ave. I, Lancaster
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Palmdale Animal Care Center, 38550 Sierra Hwy., Palmdale
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Lanark Recreation Center, 21816 Lanark St., Canoga Park.
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Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Recreation Center, 14201 Huston St., Sherman Oaks.
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Large animals are being accepted at the following locations:
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Pomona Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona
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Industry Hills Expo, 16200 Temple Ave., City of Industry
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L.A. Equestrian, 480 Riverside Drive, Burbank
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Castaic Animal Care Center, 31044 Charlie Canyon, Castaic
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EATON
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Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St.
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Arcadia Community Center, 375 Campus Drive.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR A WILDFIRE
WHAT TO PACK IN YOUR GO-BAG
OFFICIALS 6 P’s
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Face masks (N95 and KN95 masks work better for smoke and air pollution than a cloth mask)
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Batteries and chargers for your phone and other portable devices
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Several days’ worth of clothing — including coats, pajamas, underwear, socks and sturdy close-toed shoes
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A blanket or sleeping bag
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Travel-Sized Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.
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Glasses or Contact Lenses
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Medications
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Battery-Powered or Hand-Crank Radio
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Driver’s license, passports, and birth certificates.
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Medical records and prescriptions.
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Comfort items and things to pass the time, such as stuffed animals, board games, and books
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Water and nonperishable food, along with utensils and a can opener
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A flashlight and extra batteries for it
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A first-aid kit
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A fire extinguisher (look to buy small ones designed for cars and homes)
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Moist towelettes, garbage bags, toilet paper, and plastic ties for sanitation purposes
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A whistle to signal for help
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A battery-operated or hand-crank radio
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A printed map of your area, in case GPS isn’t working or you have to look for an alternate route
The 6 P's: Quick Evacuation Check List by the Los Angeles Fire Department
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People and pets: All the living creatures in your house.
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Papers and phone numbers: Include vital documents like birth certificates, passports, vaccination records, and insurance information, along with a written list of essential phone numbers. In case your phone dies or service is unavailable, ensure you have contacts for family, friends, your doctor, veterinarian (if applicable), insurance agent, landlord, and your evacuation destination, such as a hotel or designated site.
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Prescriptions: Pack your pill bottles, eyeglasses, contact lenses, vitamins, toothbrushes, toothpaste, feminine hygiene supplies, and contact lens solutions. For infants, include diapers and wipes. Ensure your first-aid kit has bandages, gauze, medical tape, antibiotic cream, antacids, anti-diarrhea medication, antihistamines, and pain relievers.
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Pictures and personal items: Pack irreplaceable items like photo albums, heirlooms, jewelry, and small valuables, as long as they won’t delay your evacuation or take space needed for essential supplies.
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Personal computers: Most of our lives are digital, so be sure to take your computer. If bringing a desktop isn’t practical, save vital documents to the cloud or a flash drive.
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Plastics: This includes your ID, credit and debit cards, and cash.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR A BLACKOUT
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Check your "Go Bag": Prepare a "Go Bag" with nonperishable food, water, flashlight batteries, cash, a first-aid kit, and a hand-crank weather radio. Include gloves, goggles, duct tape, and plastic sheeting for unexpected hazards. Keep a bedside mini-kit with hard-soled shoes, a flashlight, and spare eyeglasses or contacts for nighttime outages.
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Make a plan for your family: Every plan is unique. Have enough formula, diapers, and pet food for a few days. Ensure medication supplies are stocked and consider mobility needs, such as avoiding elevators for those using devices. For medical devices, have a backup power source. Write down important phone numbers in case your phone dies, and plan where to go if you need to evacuate.
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Charge devices, fill your tank, check your batteries: Charge all phones, tablets, laptops, and e-readers, and consider an extra battery pack. Fill your gas tank or charge your EV. Check flashlight, smoke, and carbon monoxide detector batteries, and have spares on hand.
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Prepare meals and activities that don’t require power: Check your pantry for meal and snack ideas that don’t require the fridge, freezer, or electricity to cook. If you have irreplaceable items like breast milk in the freezer, fill it with cold packs or water bottles to help keep it frozen longer during an outage. Find card games to pass time.
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Stay informed about warnings and alerts by registering for your local emergency notification system: Los Angeles County residents can register for Alert L.A. County, Notify L.A., and Nixle to receive text or email alerts. Stay informed about weather forecasts by watching local news or visiting the National Weather Service Los Angeles website.
WHAT DO TO DURING A POWER OUTAGE
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Stay home: It’s safer to stay inside your home than to be on the roads, where streetlights may be out and debris could be flying. Unless you’re ordered to evacuate or have health-related needs, it’s best to remain where you are.
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Avoid opening the fridge and freezer: A closed refrigerator can keep food safe for up to four hours without power. Never taste food to check its safety—evaluate each item individually. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers a downloadable chart to help you determine what to discard.
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Unplug unwanted appliances: When the power returns, avoid damaging your appliances. Turn off all but one light to know when it's back on without risking a surge.
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Save your phone and laptop battery for emergencies: It’s tempting to scroll through social media, but it’s better to save your battery for checking emergency updates.
WHAT THE 3 TYPES OF EVACUATION ALERTS MEAN
SHELTER-IN-PLACE
It means staying indoors and taking immediate safety precautions during an emergency instead of evacuating. This is often advised when conditions outside are unsafe due to events like hazardous weather, chemical spills, or active threats.
EVACUATION ORDER
It means there’s an immediate threat to life. This is an order to leave immediately and the area is closed to public access.
EVACUATION WARNING
It means there is a potential threat to life and property, and you should prepare to leave the area quickly if conditions worsen. It’s a notice to pack essential items, make necessary arrangements (e.g., for pets or family members), and stay alert for updates. While you’re not required to evacuate immediately, you should be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
