An apocalypse is unfolding right now in Los Angeles with unprecedented wildfires. Please send healing thoughts to all. Anyone with friends in the area, please let us know how you are. @thehappymedium aka Andrew Posey, one of our community members has sent some photos and updates. As of this moment, one would think it could not get worse, but they are predicting it will get worse. Winds at 100 mph. @lovendures @Andrew @bluebelle @Jude @tonyaw
Apocalyptic is appropriate Jeanne.
Even those mile from the flames have ash reigning down on them, some still glowing embers.
NBC in LA (channel 4 ) has been carrying live news coverage non stop online. Nobody has seen anything like it. The hurricane force winds alone are knocking over trees, downing power lines and knocking out traffic signals. Even lifeguard stations surrounded by sand are burning down.
Add poor visibility and the literal fire storm…
It is an apocalypse.
If anyone has a moment, please email the President and California governor and demand housing vouchers for displaced residents, mental health care vouchers or free mental health care to buffer the toll and burden of the incoming leadership. Please request double the normal fema funds so we can prepare for the future.
NYC provided free counseling post 9-11. There is no reason we cant locally push for this as well.
Gratitude.
@anya, thank you for sharing this information.
These fires are very hard to witness. It breaks my heart. In these situations we’re reminded how we’re all connected.
I’ve been lighting candles and praying for everyone and all living creatures in the path of these fires. May you all be protected and safe. Thinking especially of those of you in our community and your loved ones who have been affected. Please let us know how you all are doing.
God bless the firefighters. I can’t even imagine the monumental job they are facing. May the hand of Spirit give them continued strength, guidance and protection.
I visited the area for the first time in 2014 and just love it, all of it. I could have moved there I loved it so much. Prayers to all who live there and those who love the area. What a terrible turn of events.
Please send healing and protection for @Andy, @Andrew, who both live in the area—that fire wont reach them. And healing for @lovendures and her mother who have seen their childhood homes destroyed. And all who are going through hell as these fires burn out of control and at lightening speed.
We all know people who have lost childhood homes and neighborhoods at this point. The climate calamity is becoming so real for so many.
Sending healing. Requesting multitudes of Angels. May their unseen but powerful Energy help save people, pets, as much property as is still possible, keep the firefighters safe and strong, and help with any mitigation to Mother Earth's pain as is possible.
----- as I typed, I saw the tears of Angels, gentle, healing, cooling moisture that envelops All. Protecting, holding, comforting. Teardrops of Lighted healing, enhancing rescue, aiding and protecting Firefighters, First Responders. Tears that reach in comfort and cooling to all who are caught within this maelstrom of fear and pain, those in the areas and those loved ones watching from afar in fear and horror. Angelic tears soak Mother Earth--in Healing..
It is not lost to me that The City of Angels is burning.🔥
I don't currently live in L.A. as many of you know, but my family still does and the fires that have broken out in the greater L.A. area have impacted every friend and relative I know living there in some way or another. Impacted me as well because we love our friends and family and we all hold treasured memories of the people and experiences we have had in the places we have lived and loved.
If I may share with you some of what my "remote " experience with this devastation has been like these last few days, perhaps it can give some perspective on what has been happening in the Los Angeles area, the City of Angeles.
My mother grew up in Altadena. She lived in 3 homes there and one in Pasadena until she moved to another area of Los Angeles after college. My grandfather built by hand one of those homes. Based upon news reports, she believes 2 of them have now have been destroyed though it is too early to know for certain. Losing 2 childhood homes at once and the memories of your youth in them while in your 80's, well, this is definitely impacting her.
I grew up in the canyons not far from Pacific Palisades. When I was growing up, these areas were affordable for the middle class. In fact my parents were teachers when they bought their first canyon home in Laurel Canyon in the early 60's. I was was 5 when we moved a few canyons west over to a new development. There were many teachers living in this community too as well as young professionals.
Fires and floods were always a danger in our Souther California canyons. During one particularly rainy season in the late 70's, I remember my father and others, sandbagging the hillside of a neighbor's house in the attempt to preview a catastrophic mudslide. A friend lost her home to a mudslide a few years later. I also had friends who had to evacuate their homes due to wildfires in the particular canyon area they lived in. I had a collapsible escape ladder under my bed which I could hook -up to a bar under my window to escape my home if a fire came and I was trapped upstairs. It was scary at times.
Yet still, there is something almost spiritual about living in a Southern California canyon. Ask any creative arts person from the 60's and 70's. Some of their best work was created in a canyon location. For many, this is still true today.
Many of my schools were in these canyons, even my College.
But I digress.
Last night was simply surreal for me. As I watched a local LA news station live on the internet I couldn't believe my eyes. A new fire in the Hollywood Hills was consuming the community farm my Great Uncle helped tend ( even at age 104) and spearhead for decades. A new round of family and friends were under evacuation orders. My childhood home now threatened. And not an hour later another a new fire, this time in Studio City, dangerously close to the business my father ( of blessed memory) owned for 35 years before his death, just up the hill a few neighborhood blocks. Yet another place I hold dear to my heart.
My childhood home ended up surviving. As did my father's old shop which has now transferred into something new. Those family members and friends who evacuated or prepared to evacuate last night from the Hollywood Hills are safe. I have a dear friend whose mom lost her home in Pacific Palisades, a retired teacher in her 80's. My mom had friends who fled their home as that fire raged with only the clothes on their backs and lost their home. A friend of mine is buying clothes for them as we speak and delivering them to their son's house where they evacuated to.
As you read and view reports of this historic 3 day (so far) event of fires raging in the L.A. area ( and yes, NOBDOY has seen anything like this there EVER) please keep this thought in mind. We are all connected. These fires have impacted everyone in the greater L.A. area. The smoke has been horrible. Ash flying everywhere. People have lost their lives. People have lost their homes. People have lost their employment.
People.
Rich people in mansions. Middle class people in middle class homes, people living in mobile home parks and even the homeless in their makeshift shelters. People have lost everything.
We are all people.
Social media (and others) will attempt to make this a "wealthy person's" disaster.
Don't let them.
Don't let them divide humanity and make this event a "them" vs "us" event.
My friend is buying clothes for "rich" people who lost everything. People who entered the country illegally are taking in family members who have lost the little they had.
There are scores (yes scores) of children who went to school one morning and then evacuated their schools only to discover there is neither school nor home left to go back to. What great trauma they're now needing to heal. Will they see their friends and teachers again? They lost their entire community in one day.
Collective trauma. Like Covid in many ways, this event is a great equalizer.
It continues to equalize as I write.
And there are miracles. So many miracles. Some of which we are unaware of at the moment.
Truly the City of Angels is flowing with the best of what humanity can give right now.
May God bless our fireman and officers who are doing extraordinary things in extraordinary times. May blessings flow to all of those helping and volunteering, those taking in others and those fleeing toward safety. May everyone feel the care and love of others during their time of grief. May hope fill them and guide them forward. May our creative artists create healing, educational and positive impactful art from this experience. May new gardens grow and safer future neighborhoods manifest. May the best also flow forth from our politicians who govern during these times, both locally and nationally.
May Los Angeles overflow with Angels.
@lovendures I am so sorry for the loss of these communities that you and your family know so well. Thank you for giving us a peek into what they mean to you.
What you said about these events being the great equalizer really resonated. May all the blessings you listed above be true. And may our compassion for one another grow and remain.
May Los Angeles overflow with Angels.
Yes, and you, sweet friend, are one of those angels. Thank you for gracing us with your stories of your childhood home. May the city come back from this debacle, the city of light.
@Andrew, my cousin, who lives there once explained to me that it is the city of light in more than one way. He said that the reason the film industry took off there is because of the beautiful light. Long before they had the equipment to light up a set, Los Angeles lit up for them.
I'm currently south of the LA area. The neighborhood outpouring of support for people fleeing is heartwarming.
At least a hundred moms and good hearted singles are donating huge bags of clothing to people fleeing from the Alta Dena and palisades area that left with only the clothes on their backs. I'm doing a couple of loads of laundry to drop off a nice donation myself.
The Art gallery is collecting insulin, masks, and epi pens and socks and undergarments to distribute.
Good news that's not reported on the news.
This fire story is incredible! Please watch it until the end. It will give you hope for humanity.
I'm not crying, you're crying.
https://www.instagram.com/andersoncooper360/reel/DEoMLrFN_3K/
I need help with this idea and feel this could help. I wrote my Governor because I live in a state that gets between 40”-90” of precipitation a year. Whereas Los Angeles has been surviving on 5”-14” a year. We could cut tops of containers, spray them with water tight coating on the inside and collect precipitation. Then the collection containers can be pumped into shipping containers and sent to CA for fire fighting efforts only.(then no need for expensive filtration.). The water can be stored for trucks to pump water when they need it. Much of the devastation that happened was because the water scoopers that scoop water from the ocean and other places could not fly in the wind. When overuse of water caused the pressure to drop they had no place to turn after depleting their own stores and the firefighter’s couldn’t stop the fires from spreading. So if you live in a precipitation rich state write your Governor and ask her/him to help in this way. The way I have outlined is pretty cost effective. Tell your friends to help with this effort. Let’s keep us the United States of America kind souls. I appreciate it.
Personal fire impact update.
My former College, the main Getty, and a former elementary school of mine are now under mandatory evacuation.
A separate elementary school of mine is under a prepare to evacuate order.
All of Brentwood (where Kamala Harris lives in CA) is under mandatory evacuation.
Family members living in Palisades left for a couple of hours before the fires started. While they were out the evacuation orders were issued. They were never able to return to the family home of 50 years and now it's gone. In their late 70s they are restarting with 1 car, the clothes on their back, resilience and profound grief.
Here is list of some ways people can help the people of LA.
Hopefully you won't encounter a firewall to read the article. If you do, below I've provided the complete list that I pulled from that article:
DONATE/VOLUNTEER
Los Angeles Fire Department Fund
https://supportlafd.kindful.com/?campaign=1040812
The Los Angeles Fire Department is on the front lines of containing the fires and is in need of donations. It has issued an emergency funding alert.
Money donated to the LAFD will help equip fire fighters with necessary equipment and supplies, such as emergency fire shelters, hydration backpacks, and wild land brush tools needed to put out the fires.
The California Fire Foundation
https://cpf.salsalabs.org/cff-donation/index.html
Supporting some of the 7,500 firefighters and emergency personnel currently on the ground, the California Fire Foundation provides critical help to surviving families of fallen firefighters, firefighters, and the communities they serve. You can donate to them directly here.
Los Angeles Food Bank
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is providing nutritious meals to those impacted by the fires at their two locations. Right now, the food banks are accepting money and food donations, and are actively looking for volunteers.
American Red Cross Los Angeles Region
https://www.redcross.org/local/california/los-angeles.html
Serving more than 10 million residents in Los Angeles County's 88 cities, the American Red Cross is providing medical services to those impacted by the fires. The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region is currently accepting monetary donations, which will help support two emergency shelters in the Palisades. Ninety percent of its workers are volunteers-here's more info on how you can get involved.
National Day Laborer Organizing Network
Immigrant day laborers, undocumented workers, and mixed-status families who have been impacted by the fires face the additional burden of fear and uncertainty when seeking shelter and emergency services. The Pasadena Community Job Center is currently serving as an emergency center for the day laborer community, providing temporary shelter, food, water, and emergency kits. Donate here to support immigrant workers impacted by the California fires.
World Central Kitchen
World Central Kitchen's Relief Team has dispatched to Southern California to support first responders and families impacted by wildfires by providing nourishing meals. Right now, they're based at the Pasadena Convention Center-you can donate here.
Pasadena Humane
The Pasadena Humane Society is a nonprofit animal shelter servicing the Greater Los Angeles Area. Since the fires broke out, they've taken in over
300 animals, many of which have experienced burns and are injured. "Our biggest need right now is for monetary donations to help provide emergency resources to animals affected by the wildfires," reads the website.
Baby2Baby
https://donate.baby2baby.org/give/560183#!/donation/checkout
Baby2Baby, a nonprofit dedicated to serving children in need, is providing essential items such as diapers, food, formula, and hygiene products for children and families in Los Angeles impacted by the wildfires. Here's how you can donate directly to their disaster and emergency relief program.
2025 Wildfire GoFundMe Spreadsheet
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10gvOxituYvxxknoY9IQa-YEqfK8WvCjcLBcg4hsmME4/edit?gid=0#gid=0
Many families who lost their homes in the Los Angeles fires have started GoFundMe pages to raise the funds needed to rebuild their lives. Here's a link to a Google Sheet with almost 300 families severely impacted by the Los Angeles fires.
Displaced Black Families GoFundMe Directory
Altadena, one of the neighborhoods devastated by the Eaton fire, has historically been a hub for Black families in Los Angeles County. This spreadsheet provides resources to donate money to over 50 Black families that have been impacted by the Eaton fire, which destroyed over 1,000 structures in Altadena.
A continuation from the list above -- Here are more ways to help:
RESTAURANTS PROVIDING FREE MEALS
LA Times List of Food for Fire Victims
The publication has built an interactive map of 47 restaurants and counting that are providing free or discounted meals to those affected by the fires.
Each listing includes up-to-date information regarding the establishment's location, hours, pricing, and type of cuisine.
TimeOut List of Free Food for Fire Evacuees
Find a curated list of eateries offering food and shelter amid the wildfires, broken down by neighborhood, provided by TimeOut, which also gives details about how to apply for such aid.
LA Infatuation List of Restaurants Offering Support
https://www.instagram.com/p/DEnlahATatJ/?igsh=d3F5anJjdGpyOGhv&img_index=1
On the outlet's Instagram, LA Infatuation has provided a list of restaurants with free food for evacuees and first responders, encouraging others to add additional businesses that are providing support in the comments section. LA Infatuation notes that "some of these restaurants should be contacted via DM before walking in" and that information is subject to change as fires continue.
FIND RESOURCES
MALAN Fire and Wind Resources Mutual Aid
https://hcb.hackclub.com/donations/start/malan
The Mutual Aid LA Network has created a Google spreadsheet filled with information about shelters, animal centers, and volunteer opportunities, as well as places to donate funding for those impacted by the fires. Details, which will continue to be updated, are organized by city and type of aid.
You can either donate directly to the group or connect with other local hubs, as provided by the organization.
LA Fire Mutual Aid Hub
This interactive guide is designed to bring people the exact type of aid required at the location in which it's needed. Those in search of help can find everything from animal boarding and workspaces to free meals or transportation, complete with hours of operation for certain businesses.
List of Local Evacuation Centers
LAist, an NPR-affiliated radio station located in Pasadena, has compiled a list of local evacuation centers for both humans and animals. The website also includes specific resources for those seeking mental health assistance, as well as food or childcare, specifically.
List of Animal Shelters
https://secretlosangeles.com/available-resources-for-those-affected-by-socal-wildfires/
Secret Los Angeles, which curates best-of guides for the area, has a list of available animal shelters for refuge from the fires, in accordance with LA County Animal Care & Control. The lineup is separated between small and large animals, and indicates whether or not each facility has remaining space for pets in need.
Airbnb Temporary Housing
Airbnb has partnered with 211 LA to offer free temporary housing to those who have been displaced or forced to evacuate from the wildfires. Certain qualifications must be met to receive accommodation, including living in the current evacuation zone and having an Airbnb account. Those in need of a place to stay can request aid by filling out this intake form with 211 LA.
If you're able to offer shelter, visit Airbnb.org for more information on how to sign up to host, free of service fees and with damage protection.
Gavin Newsom released a new website to combat misinformation about the wildfires: californiafirefacts.com.