California Wildfire Info
If you’re reading this, this probably is a very scary day, and I’m sorry! I hope this helps you prepare. Please see if you can help your elderly, disabled, and vehicle-less neighbors evacuate. They might not be able to evacuate on their own or may not have help.
Feel free to send additional resources to add @haratarmon on instagram
Evacuation Shelters & Emergency Resources 4
For Immigrants and Undocumented People 4
Best Phone App (with notifications): WatchDuty 5
For People with Disabilities 7
Insurance and Damaged Property 7
Preparing for an evacuation
*First, evacuate earlier than you think you should. Don’t wait for the call, especially if you live on narrow roads or there aren’t many routes out. Consider the traffic from normal life + everyone evacuating around the same time. Plus, during high-wind fires, embers can travel miles ahead of the main fire. If the fire is close enough that you’ll be worried overnight, just evacuate and go get some sleep at a friend’s house ❤️
If you don’t have much time
In addition to items below, consider printing a road map in case you need to find alternate evac
routes and GPS isn’t reliable for this scenario!
If you have extra time
- Comprehensive resources from CalFire: https://readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/go-evacuation-guide/
- A graphic with a good summary (also linked below if this isn’t super readable):
https://www.tahoelivingwithfire.com/uncategorized/updated-evacuation-checklist-notifications/
Evacuation Shelters & Emergency Resources
- See the “Official Agency Sites” in the following section for official resources.
- An unofficial, community-compiled mutual aid list of shelters, free items, distribution hubs, animal boarding, horse hauling, information, etc. tiny.cc/malan-fire
- Free temporary housing from Airbnb. Info: https://news.airbnb.com/airbnb-org-offers-temporary-housing-to-people-impacted-by-the-los-angeles-wildfires/ and application is here: https://care.211cs.org/public-survey/86c5adf88e2a29c103df24ba5f48cd3f6cf9a9171207a15954dbb8b9649429f0
- Free childcare at YMCAs. Email afterschool@ymcala.org
- Restaurants offering free food: bit.ly/LAaid and more below
- Clothing from company Fashionpass - message them on instagram! First-come, first-served.
- Hotel rooms and storage in Sherman Oaks: message @ ginazapanta_ on instagram
- Help replacing prescription medication: https://www.lacare.org/members/health-news-advisories/los-angeles-wildfires-2025-member-services-updates
- For musicians: MusiCares 1-800-687-4227 musicaresrelief@musicares.org
- Counseling services:
- Koyo Psychological Services (323) 591-9611
- Mariposacenter.org
For Immigrants and Undocumented People
- *According to state law, emergency shelters cannot ask for your ID and undocumented folks are welcome!!
- Guide to Disaster Assistance Services for Immigrant Californians from cdss.ca.gov
- Guía de Servicios de Asistencia por Desastres para Californianos Inmigrantes from cdss.ca.gov
Where to get updates
*In general, fire perimeter maps will not be super accurate until the fire is over. As I note below, satellite hotspots are also not super accurate. Also, fires can be patchy, burning some homes and not others. Don’t rely on any of this info to determine if your home burned or not. Waiting is scary, but don’t stress yourself out more!
Official Agency Sites
- Recommended: CalFire (State Fire Agency) https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents
- Includes maps, evacuation zones, shelter locations for humans and animals, road closures, and general updates.
- Inciweb by US Forest Service https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/
- Similar to CalFire info.
- Similar to WatchDuty, but more technical information for fire professionals. May provide more up-to-date information. https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/map/#d:today;@-116.8,33.9,8.4z
Best Phone App (with notifications): WatchDuty
Browser site: https://app.watchduty.org/
- This app combines information from a variety of sources, and updates as soon as possible. Firefighters use it! In the app, click on the flame symbol for a specific fire and toggle on notifications if you want them.
- Click “layers” on the map to view additional map information, including evacuation zones, wind, air quality, and satellite “hotspots” (i.e. active fire)
- Note: satellite hotspots are only updated a few times per day when the satellites pass over the area. Info is likely to be a few hours out of date and location is not always super accurate. Note the hotspots out in the ocean.
Local Alerts
- To opt-in to alerts for all of LA County or a specific city’s emergency alerts: https://ready.lacounty.gov/emergency-notifications/
- This site may have additional local alert links outside LA https://www.listoscalifornia.org/alerts/
Air quality
Map of AQ levels
- For smoke, you want to be viewing PM2.5 (Particulate Matter of 2.5 micrometers, which is the size of the particles most dangerous to health) and uncheck the indoor air quality monitors.)
- **Note: We currently don’t have a great way to test for chemicals and other hazardous materials in the air (asbestos, lead, etc) that were emitted from structure fires. They aren’t represented in PM2.5 measurements. Best to wear a mask outdoors for a while, even if AQI looks good. More info in “personal safety” section
How to protect your lungs
- Get an N95 or P100 mask with 2 straps that fit tightly around your head (any hardware store should have them). A COVID mask, or mask with only ear straps is not effective against smoke and harmful chemicals in the air.
- Wildfire smoke can cause heart attacks and other health issues, especially for folks who are already vulnerable. Please take this seriously! More info here: https://newsroom.heart.org/news/wildfires-may-fuel-heart-health-hazards-smoke-exposure-increases-cardiovascular-risks
- If you can’t get an air purifier, you can make one with a box fan, duct tape, and a HEPA filter that the EPA says is just as effective. More info here: https://www.epa.gov/air-research/research-diy-air-cleaners-reduce-wildfire-smoke-indoors
- **If you can get your hands on some extra masks and other supplies, please check that the elderly folks, folks with compromised heart and lung health, and children near you have clean air!
Post-Fire Recovery
Obtaining Resources
- 211 LA: Nonprofit guide to services and info. Can call 211 or visit 211la.org
- Official website for Palisades fire, but most info is relevant for all of LA. Includes info for childcare, animal care, elder services, small businesses, taxes, etc. https://recovery.lacounty.gov/palisades-fire/
- List of resources developed by Los Angeles Region Community Recovery Organization. Includes financial, food, basic needs (clothing, shelter, immigration, DV, medication), wellness, children, emergency and public health, and volunteer sections. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pmPD2gyG02_5-nxnfM3-oLW9LuQI1TPpOJhj6ICTfKY/edit?gid=62152133#gid=62152133
- ENLA: Network of nonprofits providing support to residents - includes general resources, as well as resources specifically for disabled and unhoused community members. https://enla.org/available-resources
- LA County Red Cross 24-Hour intake (800) 675-5799
- Salvation Army socal.salvationarmy.org (562) 264-3600
- Tzu Chi Foundation (909) 447-7799
For People with Disabilities
- Disability Disaster Access and Resources Directory from California Foundation for Independent Living Centers https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/get-services/
For Unhoused People
- LA County https://homeless.lacounty.gov
- Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority https://www.lahsa.org
- 211 LA https://211la.org/resources/subcategory/housing
- National Alliance to End Homelessness - https://endhomelessness.org
- For information about housing in LA County, visit https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/to-live-and-rent-in-la
Insurance and Damaged Property
- United Policy Holders: Nonprofit for helping navigate insurance and recovery https://uphelp.org/disaster-recovery-help/2025cawildfires/