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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 2018’s devastating wildfires took a tragic toll, leaving communities scarred and lives forever changed. 

Recovery was a long and challenging journey for the thousands of individuals and families affected. In the weeks and months after the fires, the Red Cross worked 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.
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Served over 382,100 meals and snacks with our partners

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Over 61,300 overnight shelter stays provided with partners

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

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

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

Your Gifts Brought Help and Hope to People in Need

Generous donors helped provide relief and ongoing recovery support for individuals, families and communities devastated by the California Wildfires.
A smiling family at a shelter.

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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 

Vera Klein and her 8-year-old Chihuahua, Carry, rest in a Red Cross shelter.

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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 

The smoke choked sky changes the daylight to an indescribable hue.

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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 

Wildfire devastation in California.

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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 

A Red Cross volunteer assisting a resident affected by wildfires.

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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

Red Cross volunteers work together in Yuba City, CA to produce Wildfire Relief Kits to be distributed to residents affected by the Camp Fire.

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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

An Emergency Response Vehicle waits to pick up the next meal

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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

Red Cross volunteers work together in Yuba City, CA to produce Wildfire Relief Kits

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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

Red Cross worker Javanny Perez, talks with Stuart Glass at the Local Assistance Center in Chico, California.

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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

At the Neighborhood Church shelter in Chico, California, Daniel Nieves grieves the loss of his friends, who perished in the Camp Fire.

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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

For 2018 Wildfire Survivors across California, the American Red Cross allocated $27 million in direct financial assistance. Our aim with all direct financial assistance programs is to empower survivors to prioritize their own recovery needs. 

After the financial assistance portion of our recovery program closed, the American Red Cross turned its attention to our Community Recovery Program. With $11 million committed to this program, we worked locally to provide grants to non-profit organizations supporting wildfire survivors. This phase of our recovery program prioritized the most vulnerable survivors in communities with the fewest recovery funding and service resources. These populations include low-income households and communities, seniors, children, people with disabilities and access and functional needs, those who were not eligible for Red Cross individual grants, and those who lacked access to the full range of recovery resources from the Federal government.  

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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. 

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