Direct Relief emergency response to the Jesusita Fire continued throughout last night, when Direct Relief was asked to help establish at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) a medical shelter for evacuees requiring special needs.

Direct Relief emergency staff rapidly tapped and delivered emergency stockpiles of inventory from its warehouse distribution center and worked throughout the night with UCSB student volunteers and Public Health Department staff to establish the alternate care site, which is housed in UCSB’s “Thunderdome.”  The facility can accommodate approximately 100 evacuees requiring special attention.

With expanding evacuations occurring and air quality diminishing, the second day of large-scale distribution of N95 particulate respirators for residents continued today at three sites staffed by Direct Relief, Public Health Department staff and volunteers, and members of the Santa Barbara Medical Reserve Corps. Watch a video of Direct Relief’s mask distribution May 7.

For people with respiratory conditions or who must be outside while the air quality is poor, the N95 particulate respirators are recommended to protect against fine airborne matter during wildfires.

Masks and other supplies were also delivered last night to the American Red Cross shelter at Dos Pueblos High School, which has reached capacity. A second shelter has been set up at the Multi Activity Center on the UCSB campus.

Evacuation orders have required more than 30,500 people to leave their homes in the last few days, with an additional 23,000 people under evacuation warnings as the Jesusita Fire continues to burn.