After more than three weeks, the Eaton and Palisades fires are nearly 100% contained, enabling authorities to lift all remaining evacuation orders and allow residents to return to their properties.

However, the impacts of these disasters have been cataclysmic. Twenty-nine people are confirmed to have died from the wildfires, and approximately 18,300 structures have been destroyed.

Returning residents are urged by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)the federal agency charged with conducting the first of a two-phase debris removal process, including the removal and disposal of hazardous materials from burned propertiesto “exercise extreme caution” to avoid exposure to hazardous debris.

As cleanup efforts get underway, displaced residents face a long road to recovery, with efforts to rebuild homes, businesses, schools, and communities expected to take years. Beyond the immediate aftermath of the wildfires, these disruptions to daily essentials, such as employment, housing, and social support systems, will most likely contribute to devasting long-term health consequences, triggering new or worsened chronic diseases and mental health conditions, increasing future mortality, and disproportionately affecting people who were already vulnerable to poor health outcomes.

Direct Relief’s Response: An Overview

In response to the unprecedented wildfires affecting Los Angeles County, Direct Relief has prioritized the following support strategies:

• Direct Cash Assistance: Direct Relief provided more than $1.2 million in cash to safety-net health care providers, mobile clinics, search and rescue teams, reproductive health organizations, and community organizations based in Los Angeles County. These groups have provided care for community members impacted by the fires at evacuation shelters, mobile clinics, and health centers across the county. Direct Relief is planning additional direct funding to support ongoing health care operations.
• Medical Aid: Urgently needed medicines, including insulin and inhalers, are being hand delivered or shipped to affected areas.
• Support for First Responders: Essential protective gear and equipment are being supplied to first responders.
• Recovery Assistance: Thousands of protective suits have been distributed to people returning to their homes.
• Mobile Health Care Support: Medicine donations are enabling mobile health care providers to reach impacted communities.

Direct Relief has provided emergency support to health centers and other organizations with donated medicines, supplies, and grants since the fires began on Jan 7. Many of these are long-term partners Direct Relief has supported for more than 20 years.

100% of funds donated for the Los Angeles County wildfires will be used for that emergency. Direct Relief never employs designated funds for fundraising or marketing purposes.

The Impact

The grant funding Direct Relief has provided thus far, totaling more than $1.2 million, are intended to serve as a stopgap measure, enabling these 35 response partners to sustain crucial services and support affected staff. Direct Relief has also delivered more than $904,000 in medicines and medical supplies to more than 40 health care providers, government agencies, and other organizations spanning more than 60 locations throughout LA County.

Direct Relief is committed to responding over the long-term to support recovery and resilience work throughout Los Angeles County.