Updated: Monday, August 5, 2024 | 5:30 p.m. PT

The American Red Cross is currently supporting those impacted by the Nixon Fire. Please find our latest response information below. If you need Red Cross assistance, please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
 

CARE AND RECEPTION CENTER INFORMATION

• A Care and Reception Center is open at Hamilton High School (57430 Mitchell Rd, Anza) from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. for those affected by the Nixon Fire. At this location, Red Cross volunteers are providing a safe place to stay, along with snacks, hydration and more.
• With evacuation orders lifted, the Care and Reception Center at Hamilton High School will close on Tuesday, August 6 at 9:00 a.m. 
• Thank you to our volunteers and partners who continue to help those displaced with additional resources. Anyone in need of further assistance can call 1-800-RED-CROSS. 

RETURNING HOME AFTER A WILDFIRE

Safety Basics:

• Wait for officials to say it is safe before going back home.
• Avoid hot ash, charred trees, smoldering debris, and live embers. The ground may contain heat pockets that can burn you or spark another fire. 
• Avoid damaged or fallen power lines, poles, and downed wires. They can electrocute you.
• Watch for pits in the ground filled with ash. They may have hot embers underneath that could burn you. Mark them for safety, and warn your family and neighbors to keep clear of the pits.
• Keep an eye on pets to ensure they don’t wander into unsafe areas or hot embers.
  
  

How to Clean Up Safely:

• Follow public health rules and wear safety equipment.
• Avoid direct contact with ash.
• Protect yourself against ash when you clean up. Wear gloves, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes and socks to protect your skin. Wear goggles to protect your eyes. Limit how much ash you breathe in by wearing an N95 respirator.
• Wash off ash that gets on your skin or in your eyes or mouth as soon as you can.
• Children, pregnant women, and people with asthma, heart or lung conditions should not breathe in dust from ash.

Tips to Stay Healthy:

• Wildfires can make drinking water unsafe. Check with your local health department about drinking water safety.
• When in doubt, throw it out! Throw out food that was exposed to heat, smoke, fumes, or chemicals.
• Ask your healthcare provider or doctor about using refrigerated medicines.

Take Care of Yourself:

• It’s normal to have a lot of feelings.
• Eat healthy food and get enough sleep to help you deal with stress.
• You can contact the Disaster Distress Helpline for free if you need to talk to someone at 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs’ to 66746.
   

WILDFIRE SAFETY TIPS

• You may have to leave your home quickly to stay safe during a wildfire. Know where you will go, how you will get there, and where you will stay. Have different escape routes from your home and community.  
• Be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Listen to local media for updated emergency information and sign up for free emergency alerts from your local government.   
• Back your car into the garage or park it outside in the direction of your evacuation route.  
• If time allows, check your emergency kit and replenish any items missing or in short supply, especially medications and medical supplies. Make sure you include a mask and hand sanitizer with your kit. Keep it in the car.   
• When you evacuate or head to a shelter, remember to bring special items for children, like food/formula, diapers, extra clothing, toys, etc.; items for pets, including a leash, pet medications and pet food; prescription medications and medical devices you may need; comfort items like personal hygiene items and pillows, blankets, towels, change of clothing or other items you may want to have with you at the shelter, and remember to bring your cell phone charger or external battery packs as well.
• Don’t wait – evacuate: if you feel threatened or unsafe, you can choose to evacuate at any time. If you receive an official evacuation order, heed the orders of local authorities, and follow instructions.
• Download the free Red Cross Emergency App for safety information and weather alerts right at your fingertips, including what to do before, during and after disasters. The app is available in English and Spanish. 

WILDFIRE SAFETY FOR PETS AND ANIMALS

• Please be prepared to evacuate with your pets. If it’s not safe for you to stay in your home during an emergency, it’s not safe for them either!
• If you are near an evacuation area, bring your companion animals indoors and maintain direct control of them.
• Confine pets to one room so you can quickly grab them and go if you need to evacuate.  
• When evacuating, consider taking items for your pets including leashes, food, medications, toys or other helpful items to have with you.
• Click here to find tips for pet preparedness and evacuating with pets.

HOW TO HELP

• At this time, we have everything needed, including donated items like water, to support our response efforts. 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. 
• We know that people are generous and want to do everything they can to help after a disaster. Our first priority is to provide shelter and support to those affected — and 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, such as replacing lost items like prescription medications or reading glasses.
• You can help people affected by disasters like storms 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 or call 1-800-RED CROSS to make a donation. 
• Your financial donation to the Red Cross helps provide shelter, meals, relief supplies, emotional support, recovery planning and other assistance during disasters.
• If you have a desire to help people impacted by disasters, you can make a significant impact as a Red Cross volunteer. Learn more at redcross.org/volunteer.

UPDATES

Please follow the American Red Cross Southern California Region on X at @SoCal_RedCross for additional information and the latest disaster response updates.