LOS ANGELES, July 10, 2026— The American Red Cross Los Angeles has opened an evacuation shelter for those affected by the Summit Fire near Lancaster in northern LA County. A Shelter is located at Antelope Valley YMCA, 43001 10th St W, Lancaster, CA 93534. The shelter will remain open 24/7 and available to anyone displaced by the Summit Fire.

Domestic family pets are welcomed and must be in a travel carrier or pet crate, with limited capacity for pets at Palmdale Animal Care Center, 38550 Sierra Hwy, Palmdale, CA 93550.

For those seeking refuge, please bring your emergency kit and any supplies you need to help make yourself feel comfortable and safe, such as medication and pet food.  Wildfires can spread rapidly, and it is important to prepare now and have your car ready; do not wait until there is not enough time to grab your essentials.

Red Cross is dedicated to alleviating the suffering of those affected by disasters. We work closely with local emergency management teams and our community partners to coordinate relief efforts. Trained Red Cross volunteers and staff are on call around-the-clock and ready to assist in aspects such as providing shelter, meals, disaster assessment, resources and more.

WILDFIRE SAFETY

A wildfire can spread very quickly, leaving you little time to get to safety. Be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice and obey all instructions from officials.

·       Know where you will go, how you will get there and where you will stay. Plan well in advance if you’ll need help leaving or use public transportation.

·       If you have a car, ensure the gas tank is full and park it facing the direction of your evacuation route.

·       Keep your pets in one room, so you can find them if you need to evacuate quickly.

·       Monitor local weather and fires near you. Sign up for free emergency alerts from your local government. Stay up to date on evacuation routes and road closures that could impact your plans.

·       If you feel you are in danger leave immediately. You might not get an official notice to evacuate.

·       Limit exposure to smoke and dust. Keep indoor air clean by closing windows and doors to prevent outside smoke from getting in.

·       Don’t use anything that burns, such as candles, fireplaces and gas stoves to help keep your indoor air clean.

Don’t return home until officials say it’s safe to do so.

·       Avoid hot ash, charred trees, smoldering debris and live embers. The ground may contain heat pockets or ash pits that can burn you or spark another fire.

·       Watch out for debris, and avoid fallen power lines, poles and wires.

·       Drinking water may be contaminated. Follow the advice of local public health officials to protect yourself.

·       Throw out food that was exposed to heat, smoke, fumes or chemicals. When in doubt, throw it out!

·       Avoid direct contact with ash. Wear gloves, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes and socks to protect your skin. Wear goggles to protect your eyes. Wash off ash that gets on your skin or in your eyes or mouth as soon as you can.

·       Limit how much ash you breathe in by wearing an N95 respirator.

Download the free Red Cross Emergency app for real-time weather alerts, open shelter locations and expert advice in both English and Spanish.

·       Search “American Red Cross” in app stores or go to redcross.org/apps.

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.