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2018 California Wildfires Relief Information

2018 California Wildfires Relief Information

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragic wildfires in California. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragic wildfires in California.
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November’s devastating wildfires took a tragic toll, leaving communities scarred and lives forever changed. 

Recovery will be a long and challenging journey for the thousands of individuals and families affected. In the weeks and months to come, we'll be working with our disaster response partners to coordinate ongoing relief efforts and develop longer-term recovery plans. 

Read the Six-Month Update >>

Your Donor Dollars At Work

All numbers are cumulative and represent Red Cross wildfire response efforts to the Camp Fire, Hill Fire and Woolsey Fire in California as of May 8, 2019.

Served over 382,100 meals and snacks with our partners

Over 61,300 overnight shelter stays provided with partners

Distributed over 81,200 relief items like sifters, cleaning supplies, coolers and comfort kits

Over 66,800 health, mental health and spiritual care contacts made

Over 10,000 severely affected households provided with recovery financial assistance

Your Gifts Are Bringing Help and Hope to People in Need

Generous donors are helping provide relief and ongoing recovery support for individuals, families and communities devastated by the California Wildfires.

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November 9, 2018. Woodland Hills, California.
Essence, Anna (age 9) and Corey evacuated at 2 am after seeing the fires coming toward their home. They are not sure if their home has survived the fire, but by watching the news and researching news outlets they are trying to piece together whether their house is still standing. After waiting all day in the shelter, they finally “need a break” and are planning to go out for dinner.
Photo by Roxanne Schorbach/American Red Cross 

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November 9, 2018. Woodland Hills, California.
Vera Klein and her 8-year-old Chihuahua, Carry, rest in a Red Cross shelter at Pierce Jr. College after receiving a mandatory evacuation call earlier that afternoon. She never thought anything like this would happen to her. Her home was surrounded by fires as they drove away and she hopes her house will be there when they go home.
Photo by Roxanne Schorbach/American Red Cross 

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November 13, 2018. California.
The smoke choked sky changes the daylight to an indescribable hue. Birds fly by for the left overs as horses graze, near Chico, CA.
Photo by Daniel Cima/American Red Cross 

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November 13, 2018. Paradise, California.
Devastation in Paradise, California caused by the Camp Fire wildfires.
Photo by Daniel Cima/American Red Cross 

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November 14, 2018. Chico, California.

Randy Salez of Magalia, CA is stoic about what he considers to be just another part of the journey. Randy and Max are staying at the Neighborhood Church, a Red Cross shelter in Chico, CA. “ I don’t question fate, I live for today. Just look what is happening here, people sharing, caring for each other, I have never seen people come together like this, with such generosity of spirit.” 

Photo by Daniel Cima/American Red Cross

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November 14, 2018. Yuba City, California.

Red Cross volunteers work together in Yuba City, CA to produce Wildfire Relief Kits to be distributed to residents affected by the Camp Fire. These kits are specifically designed to assist residents safely search for important small treasures, clear debris, and provide needed personal hygiene items. 

Photo by Daniel Cima/American Red Cross

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November 15, 2018. World Central Kitchen Camp Fire Relief Operation, Chico, California.

An Emergency Response Vehicle waits to pick up the next meal while the thick smoke envelopes everything and the daytime sun is vanquished.

Photo by Daniel Cima/American Red Cross

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November 14, 2018. Yuba City, California.
Red Cross volunteers work together in Yuba City, CA to produce Wildfire Relief Kits that contain gloves, hand sanitizer, masks, trash bags, cough drops, eye drops, wipes, sponge, shovel, rake, and tarp. It was a massive project, but the work was quickly accomplished with the help of more than two dozen eager and able volunteers, including several new volunteers from the community.

Photo by Daniel Cima/American Red Cross

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November 16, 2018. Chico, California.

Red Cross worker Javanny Perez, talks with Stuart Glass at the Local Assistance Center in Chico, California. The Local Assistance Center brings together many agencies that can help residents after a disaster, ranging from government entities to faith-based relief agencies. 

Photo by Daniel Cima/American Red Cross

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November 17, 2018. Chico, California.

At the Neighborhood Church shelter in Chico, California, Daniel Nieves grieves the loss of his friends, who perished in the Camp Fire. Red Cross volunteers Pamela Harris and Vicki Eichstaedt listen and offer comfort as Daniel remembers a special friendship.

Photo by Daniel Cima/American Red Cross 

Providing Ongoing Support for Recovery

  • Hundreds of people—many of whom lost their homes and have nowhere else to go—remain at Red Cross and community shelters across Northern California while they cope with the stress and uncertainty of the wildfire’s aftermath. Our workers continue to support displaced residents’ ongoing needs for food, hygiene supplies and other necessities. 
  • Red Cross disaster mental health and spiritual care workers are also working alongside nonprofit and government partners at the Family Support Center to help people who lost loved ones to the Camp Fire. This is a secure place where families can receive emotional and bereavement support, get something to eat or drink, find out the latest information, and connect with available recovery assistance from the Red Cross and our partners. 
  • As people begin to rebuild their lives, the Red Cross is working to get emergency financial assistance into the hands of individuals and families whose homes were most affected. This financial assistance will allow people to make their own decisions and prioritize what their family needs most to start recovering. 
Support Disaster Relief Efforts

The Red Cross honors donor intent and all donations earmarked for Disaster Relief will be used to help people affected by disasters, big and small. Americans work hard for their money, and we’re committed to being the very best stewards of our donors’ dollar. The Red Cross keeps our expenses low and an average of 90 cents of every dollar we spend is invested in delivering care and comfort to those in need. 

Donate Now to Disaster Relief

Help people affected by disasters big and small.

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