In response to the recent fires burning throughout Southern California, Direct Relief has extended offers of support of medical inventories to partner clinics, clinic associations, and emergency officials in communities affected or threatened by the fires, and has ensured that Direct Relief’s resources, if needed, are coordinated with other responding agencies to best serve any affected residents.

Clinic associations representing 88 clinics and more than 245 clinical sites in Southern California have been contacted, including the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County, the Coalition of Orange County Community Clinics, and the Council of Community Clinics in San Diego. In addition, the California Primary Care Association, an organization representing more than 600 clinical sites statewide, has been notified that Direct Relief is positioned to respond to any requests for medical support.

Reports estimate that at least 12 fires are burning mostly uncontained from Santa Barbara to San Diego County, affecting more than 100,000 acres and forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate. States of emergency have been declared in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties. One death has been attributed to the fires, and 17 people have been injured.