Scenes from the Dixie, California Wildfire

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Scenes from the fire damage from the Dixie Fire in Greenville, CA, a small town devastated by the fire earlier this week. The fire has destroyed nearly 500 homes, including the entire town of Greenville. Photo by Scott Dalton/American Red Cross

Volunteer makes sure Greg Norton is comfortable in his wheelchair

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Red Cross volunteer John Van Sickle makes sure Greg Norton is comfortable in his new wheelchair out in the shelter parking lot in Susanville, CA. Norton and his family fled their Hamilton Branch, Ca, home when evacuation orders were issued ahead of the Dixie Fire. Norton stated, "The Red Cross helped me get this wheelchair because it was just too hard to walk around here with my canes." Photo by Scott Dalton/American Red Cross

volunteer checks on Regina Rutledge and her two dogs

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Red Cross volunteer John Van Sickle checks on Regina Rutledge and her two dogs, Ally Gator and Sally Sue, outside of the shelter in Susanville, CA. Rutledge and her canine companions were forced from their Chester, CA, home due to the approaching Dixie Fire. Rutledge spent two days packing up her truck before she fled home for the shelter. "I fell in some poison oak when I was loading the truck and the Red Cross nurse gave me some lotion. She also got me a pillow because I'm sleeping out here in the truck. Photo by Scott Dalton/American Red Cross

volunteer checks on the wellbeing of a couple of horses

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Red Cross volunteer Dave Wagner checks on the wellbeing of a couple of horses and other livestock that Dixie Fire evacuees are stabling at the Lassen County Fairgrounds. The High Sierra Animal Rescue is assisting evacuees with the care of their pets and livestock. Photo by Scott Dalton/American Red Cross

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Red Cross volunteers Dave Wagner and Shannon Wilson, along with Salvation Army volunteers Brandi Probst and Sherry Smith chat with Kristen Beloit near her trailer outside of the shelter in Susanville, CA. Beloit said that she was in an utter panic when she and her husband evacuated their home in Chester, CA, as the Dixie Fire closed in. "I've been out in town here and I've seen people like us with their trailers and motorhomes. I tell them to come to the Red Cross shelter. We're like a community here, neighbors helping each other and the Red Cross helping us." Photo by Scott Dalton/American Red Cross

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Red Cross volunteer Dave Wagner chats with Norman Keeling outside of the shelter in Susanville, CA. Keeling evacuated his Chester, CA, home due to the Dixie Fire. "I didn't know if the Red Cross deserved any appreciation before this all happened," said Keeling. "But now I know how important they are. I think we should have a holiday every year where we honor the fire guys who helped to save our community and as a fundraiser for the Red Cross who helped us until we could go home." Photo by Scott Dalton/American Red Cross

August 10, 2021

The Dixie Fire in California, the second largest in the state’s history, has burned nearly 490,000 acres, more than 14,000 acres in the last 24 hours. The blaze has destroyed more than 890 structures and more than 16,000 remain in its path. Nearly 10,000 people have had to leave their homes due to the fire.

The American Red Cross is working around the clock to help people impacted by this massive wildfire. Find out more here.

HOW YOU CAN HELP Support people affected by disasters like fires and countless other crises by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. For those interested in specifically helping people affected by the Western wildfires, we ask that they write “Western Wildfires” in the memo line of a check and mail it to their local Red Cross chapter with the completed donation form.

Financial donations are the quickest and best way to help those who need it most. Donations of clothing and household items divert resources away from our mission — whereas financial donations can be used right away to directly help those affected. In all cases, due to health code regulations, the Red Cross cannot accept donations of homecooked meals or food items not prepared in a commercial kitchen.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.