In early January 2025, Los Angeles County began to face a series of deadly wildfires. Currently, three major fires, including the Palisades Fire, the Eaton Fire and the Hurst Fire, are collectively burning thousands of acres of land, forcing widespread evacuations and power outages affecting over 200,000 residents, including families, seniors and individuals with special needs. In response, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency, and President Biden authorized federal assistance to support firefighting operations. As of January 8, 2025, the fires remain uncontained, with ongoing efforts to protect lives and property.
The fires have already destroyed entire neighborhoods and communities, including more than 12,000 homes, businesses and community centers. Many of those who were able to return home from evacuation orders have found their residences uninhabitable, with unstable structures, poor air quality and disrupted essential services, including power and water.
Community needs will continue to be significant, particularly for the elderly, children and those with underlying respiratory or chronic conditions such as asthma or COPD. Affected residents remain at an increased risk of adverse health effects due to the smoke, contaminated water and loss of power, and of enormous mental and emotional stress
caused by the sudden change and loss of homes and property, wages and loved ones. As crews continue to fight the fires, rapid response and recovery efforts are critical for those directly and indirectly affected.
International Medical Corps, headquartered in Los Angeles, deployed an Emergency Response Team on Wednesday, January 8, and is operating in close communication with state, county and local responders—including the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) and the LA Mayor’s office— on coordination efforts. Since initiating our response, International Medical Corps has distributed 1,280 wound-care kits and 540 individual hygiene kits to more than 1,000
community members and displaced residents at both the Pasadena Convention Center shelter and the Santa Anita Park Way Community Distribution Center. International Medical Corps teams are working to quickly mobilize and deliver additional essential relief supplies, including hygiene kits, first-aid kits, KN95 masks and towels, to support affected communities, health facilities and local organizations.
By supporting this project, you can help bring urgently needed medical supplies to the people affected by the Los Angeles Wildfires as they rebuild and recover from this disaster.
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Your Support can Save Lives!
By supporting this project or creating a giving opportunity of your own, you can make a lifesaving difference for families affected by crises in the United States and worldwide.
With the support of our global community, in 2023, we:
• reached nearly 16.5 million people affected by armed conflict, natural disasters and disease outbreaks;
• delivered 9,331,598 primary healthcare consultations;
• trained 107,202 people on health, mental health, protection and nutrition-related topics; and
• assisted 2,375,098 people with vital nutrition support.
Join International Medical Corps in our mission to build a healthier and more hopeful world for all in 2024.
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*Please Note for Recurring Donations: Once we have determined that the community can continue to respond to the after-effects of this emergency without us, we will scale back our response efforts. At that time, we will redirect your future donations where they are needed most to help us respond to future outbreaks of conflict, disease or disaster.
