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Los Angeles Fires
Support communities impacted by the Los Angeles fires
CORE immediately deployed an emergency response team to support people through these devastating wildfires. We are based in Los Angeles, and we are proud to serve the communities we know and love. Our active response includes:
— Distributing cash vouchers so people can purchase items to meet their unique needs.
— Providing thousands of free resources such as N95 masks, hygiene kits, and respiratory checks, as well as helping people with FEMA applications.
— Assisting local shelters by supplying WiFi, charging stations, and cellphone batteries so people can communicate with their loved ones and get critical updates and information.
— Supporting immigrant communities in Los Angeles through our multilingual staff.
To power these ongoing efforts, please donate to CORE today. In times of crisis, choosing to give monthly can make a lasting impact throughout the long road to recovery.
Note: At the close of the response, contributions for the Los Angeles Fires will continue to create incredible impact and be reallocated to CORE’s Climate Resiliency Program that focuses on wildfire mitigation and preparedness. If you have trouble processing your donation, questions about your gift, or would like to cancel your recurring giving plan please reach out to us at [email protected]
Los Angeles Fires
On January 7, 2025, several major wildfires, fueled by unprecedented winds and unseasonably dry conditions, erupted across the greater Los Angeles area, forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate. The largest are the Palisades Fire along the coast and the Eaton Fire in Altadena and Pasadena, which are still uncontained. More than 10,000 structures have been destroyed – including homes, schools, and businesses. As unfavorable firefighting conditions and strong winds continue, resources are stretched extremely thin.
If you are a member of the media and would like to speak with one of our experts about our response, please contact CORE at [email protected].
Why Cash Assistance?
With your support, our goal is to give $1M in cash cards to Angelenos in need.
CORE is one of the first and only organizations working to provide cash assistance as part of our response to the Los Angeles fires. Cash assistance gives power and flexibility back to the people actually impacted by disasters, so they have the freedom to prioritize their unique needs. It provides the dignity of choice, which can mean so much after losing everything.
How You Can Make An Immediate Impact
Make a one-time donation at the top of this page to support our wildfire response today.
Donate monthly to support long-term efforts like our climate resilience program which include crucial initiatives like life-saving wildfire mitigation and community resiliency to better help vulnerable residents prepare and thrive.
Spread the word! Use our social media toolkit to help create awareness of CORE’s response and raise critical funds for families in need.
Create a fundraiser to share why you’re passionate about supporting Angelenos. Here are some fundraising tips!
Workplace Giving. Join our community of national and local partners by participating in a variety of initiatives, from corporate matching to volunteer opportunities. Learn more about opportunities specific to our fire response here.
Donate Goods. Many people have reached out asking to donate physical goods. Submit your in-kind donation request here.
Volunteer with us. We currently have a full roster of individual volunteers, but the situation is fluid. If you’re interested, fill out this form.
For more information about any of these options, please contact our VP of Development Tiffany Tse at [email protected].
Long-Term Recovery
CORE will continue to help local families long after the fires are extinguished. We will rebuild Los Angeles together. Our long-term priorities include:
— Critical structural repairs and rebuilding so people can return to their homes.
— Case management support for displaced people throughout the reconstruction process.
— Providing debris kits to recover items that survived the fires, along with safety items such as goggles, gloves, and masks so people are protected from hazardous fire remains.
Response Updates
1/15/25 – CORE is present at the Disaster Resource Center located at 3035 E. Foothill Blvd in Pasadena. At the DRC, those impacted by the fires can apply for federal assistance and access other resources from state and local agencies. Our staff will be there for the next two weeks, helping those impacted begin to apply for CORE’s cash assistance program.
1/14/25 – CORE is continuing to provide support services at the Pasadena Convention Center shelter. We’ve created the CORE Kids Corner, a protected and fun space for children of all ages and their guardians to connect and play! Many kids were forced to evacuate their homes due to the wildfires. By giving guardians this free resource, they have additional time and energy to navigate crucial next steps in the recovery.
1/13/25 – CORE’s staff and volunteers continued to pack and distribute hygiene kits for impacted community members. In the evening, Co-founder Sean Penn spoke with Anderson Cooper on CNN to discuss CORE’s evolving relief efforts and the launch of the SoCal Fire Fund, a joint effort between CORE, CAA Foundation, and LAUSD Foundation.
1/12/25 – After such a great day of community togetherness at the East Los Angeles Resource Fair, CORE is continuing to provide hygiene kits, N95 masks, and internet and power support to those at the Pasadena Evacuation Center. Our staff remains committed to service, helping in any way they can, including resource navigation and FEMA application assistance.
1/11/25 – CORE staff and volunteers came out in full force at the East Los Angeles Resource Fair. Our emergency response medical team performed free respiratory health checks, as air quality continues to suffer due to smoke from the wildfires. We also distributed N95 masks, hygiene kits, cellphone batteries, feminine products, and other educational resources. We continue providing power and internet support at the Pasadena Evacuation Center and have begun helping individuals complete FEMA applications, aiding them in their first steps to long-term recovery. Our own climate resilience manager, Nina Knierim, lost her home to the fires this week. Despite this, she was determined to share her story to highlight the importance of climate mitigation, adaptation, and preparation. You can watch her moving piece that aired today on PBS Newshour by clicking here.
1/10/25 – In addition to more hygiene kits and face masks, CORE is supporting those at the Pasadena Evacuation Center by supplying WiFi sources, charging banks, and on-the-ground assistance as needed. CORE is the only partner that set up charging stations, enabling people to look up more information on additional resources and connect with loved ones across the globe.
1/9/25 – On Day 1 of our response to the LA Fires, CORE distributed N-95 masks and hygiene kits to people forced to evacuate their homes, and to unhoused people. We have thousands more ready to be dispersed. Our goal is to serve the most populations impacted by the fires, including those whose homes have been damaged or destroyed, people who have been displaced, and other vulnerable groups that have been indirectly impacted by wildfire smoke.
