Over 29,000 acres have burned across Southern California as four major wildfires rage through the area. Many Californians are in need of help during this distressing time especially those who haven been forced to evacuate their homes. Local government services have offered to provide help to those most affected.
Here’s our full guide of local resources for everyone affected by the Southern California wildfires.
❗ Please note: We’ve compiled this information to help support our community affected by these unprecedented wildfires. These details are changing quickly, and we strongly recommend checking directly with the linked sources for the most up-to-date information.
Table Of Contents
Emergency Evacuation Centers
The following centers are accepting wildfire evacuees. You can find more information and resources, including an evacuation map, on the L.A. County Emergency website. or 211LA.
🚨 Things are changing quickly, so check each center’s website and socials or contact them directly to make sure they’re still accepting people.
- Westwood Recreation Center (1350 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025)
- Accepts small animals
- Ritchie Valens Recreation Center (10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Pacoima, CA 91331)
- Accepts small animals
- El Camino Real Charter High School (5440 Valley Circle Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA 91367)
- According to the Red Cross, it is now closed.
- Pasadena Civic Center (300 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101)
- The center is open for evacuees for shelter. Thankfully, they accept domestic family pets, but they must be on a leash or in a travel carrier or pet crate.
- Pomona Fairplex (1101 W Mckinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768)
- Accepts large and small animals
- Stoner Recreation Center (1835 Stoner Ave Los Angeles, CA 90025)
- Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Rec Center (14201 Houston St, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423)
- Arcadia Community Center (375 Campus Dr, Arcadia, CA 91007)
- Arcadia Public Library (20 West Duarte Road Arcadia, CA 91007)
- IATSE Disaster Response Team (2520 West Olive Avenue Burbank, CA 91505)
- Pacific Community Center (501 S. Pacific Avenue Glendale, CA 91204)
- Hollywood High School (1521 Highland Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90028)
- Pan Pacific Park Recreational Center (7600 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036)
- LA Dream Center Emergency Shelter (2301 Bellevue Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90026)
- The center is open for evacuees for shelter. Thankfully, they accept domestic family pets, but they must be in a travel carrier or pet crate.
- Northridge Park Recreation Center (10120 Reseda Blvd Northridge, CA 91324)
- Sepulveda Recreation Center (8825 Kester Ave Panorama City, CA 91402)
- Lanark Recreation Center (21816 Lanark Street, Canoga Park, CA 91304)
- Calvary Community Church (5495 Via Rocas, Westlake Village, CA 91362)
What To Bring To An Evacuation Center
Red Cross Los Angeles advises those who are able to do so to bring the following with them to an Evacuation Center. You can also read our article about how to pack a Go-Bag and prepare for evacuation here.
- Prescription medications
- Extra clothing
- Pillows and blankets
- Hygiene supplies
- Important documents
- Diapers, formulas, and toys for children
Emergency Animal Shelters
The following shelters are available for you to bring your animals. You can get more information from LA County Animal Care & Control.
🚨 We’ve done our best to update the shelters at capacity, but things are changing quickly, so make sure you check their website/socials or contact them to see if they’re accepting animals.
Shelters for Small Animals:
- Westwood Recreation Center (1350 S Sepulveda Blvd 90025)
- This shelter accepts both human and animal evacuees. They accept domestic family pets, but they must be in a travel carrier or pet crate.
- Agoura Animal Care Center (29525 Agoura Rd, Agoura Hills, CA 91301)
- Pasadena Humane Society (361 S Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105)
- Baldwin Park Animal Care Center (4275 Elton St, Baldwin Park, CA 91706)
- Carson Animal Care Center (216 W Victoria St, Gardena, CA 90248)
- Downey Animal Care Center (11258 Garfield Ave, Downey, CA 90242)
- Lancaster Animal Care Center (5210 W Ave I, Lancaster, CA 93536)
- Palmdale Animal Care Center (38550 Sierra Hwy, Palmdale, CA 93550)
Shelters for Large Animals:
- Pomona Fairplex (1101 W Mckinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768)
- Accepts large and small animals
- Castaic Animal Care Center (31044 Charlie Canyon Rd, Castaic, CA 91384)
- Lancaster Animal Care Center (5210 W Ave I, Lancaster, CA 93536)
- AV Fairgrounds (2551 W Avenue H, Lancaster, CA 93536)
- AV Fairgrounds is offering RV evacuation.
- Industry Hills Expo (16200 Temple Ave, City of Industry, CA 91744)
- Industry Hills Expo has capacity for 200 horses.
Additionally, many on X and Instagram have reported that local emergency 24-hour animal hospitals are taking in animals evacuated from the fires.
Complimentary Telehealth For Pets
In response to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, Vetster, a veterinary telehealth platform, is providing free telehealth appointments to pet owners affected by the fires. Those in need of care for their pets can visit vetster.com/support to connect with Vetster’s care team, who will help schedule a complimentary appointment. This initiative is available to up to 500 pet owners and runs through January 23, 2025.
Chewy has also announced free online consultations with their veterinarians. You can contact them via DM, email, or a phone call to their 24/7 line, (800) 672-4399.
How To Volunteer To Help Animals
Many organizations are working to care for pets and wildlife displaced during the L.A.-area wildfires. Here is our guide to all of the L.A. Animal Organizations where you can donate, foster, or volunteer right now.
Hotels Available for Booking
This comprehensive spreadsheet shared to the Citizen App has a running list of local hotels that you can book. Many of them are offering special rates to wildfire victims, including 50% off at Air Venice and 25% off at Hotel Per La, and discounts at Hotel Figueroa.
Additionally, Fuerza Regida is using their platform to provide temporary housing for wildfire evacuees in Southern California. Read more about the hotel room offer here.
Companies Offering Free Stays and Services
- Spectrum has unlocked over 35,000 free Wi-Fi access points in public spaces for those affected by the wildfires. You can read more and find a link to the hotspot locator here.
- T-Mobile teams are on the ground in local communities offering free Wi-Fi connectivity and device charging 24/7 at the T-Mobile Freemont & Huntington retail store at 1318 Huntington Dr., South Pasadena, CA 91030. (That location may change.)
- AT&T has announced unlimited data, text, and calls in wildfire areas.
- Verizon is waiving data, text, and call charges in wildfire areas, and offering free Wi-Fi and charging stations.
- Uber is offering a $40 credit with code WILDFIRE25 to LA County residents who were forced to evacuate to a shelter. Lyft is offering $25 vouchers with code CAFIRERELIEF25 for 500 customers through Jan. 15th.
- Airbnb has partnered with 211 LA to offer free temporary housing to people displaced or forced to evacuate due to the wildfires. You must meet certain requirements to qualify, such as living in a current evacuation zone and having an Airbnb account.
- Big Bear is offering support to for those who have been impacted by the recent wildfires with a temporary housing program that offers deeply discounted lodging accommodations. Plus, Big Bear is a certified evacuation housing center on Airbnb.org’s free emergency housing assistance program. Big Bear has over 1,000 homes available for free temporary housing on Airbnb.org’s program.
- According to KTLA, Planet Fitness is opening its doors for residents, first responders, and people affected by the wildfires. Through January 15th, you can get free access to the locker rooms, showers, HydroMassage loungers, outlets, and Wi-Fi.
Restaurants Offering Free Meals
We’ve compiled a list of restaurants currently offering free meals, but things are constantly changing. It’s best to check directly with the restaurant via its website or socials in order to get the latest information. Some of the participating restaurants include Danny Boy’s, select In-N-Out locations, and Yeastie Boys.
Free Metro Rides
The L.A. County Supervisor and L.A. Metro Board of Directors, Janice Hahn, announced another extension for the suspension of all metro fares. As many highways and roads are blocked, most Californians are unable to drive to safety. The metro could be an alternative for travel method for many. Read more on SoCal highway and road closures here.
FEMA Assistance
A Major Disaster Declaration approved by President Biden has unlocked critical funding from FEMA. FEMA’s resources are designed to assist people rebuilding their lives with temporary housing, home repairs, and personal items. Check our article for information about eligibility and how to apply.
Free N95 masks available across L.A.
Free N95 masks are now available at all public L.A. City libraries, recreation centers, and senior centers courtesy of the City of Los Angeles.
Stay alert and stay safe, Californians! Keep checking back here for further updates on the situation.
Edited by Sarah Nash, Jamie Ferrell, and Sophie Len
Read more: