Wildfire smoke cloud seen from Burbank January 11, 2025
Suzanne Potter, producer/reporter, California News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.
Food donations are pouring in to help victims of the Los Angeles wildfires, to the point donors are being asked to hold off a bit so it can all be distributed.
Antihunger advocates cautioned there are still hidden needs, because many people who did not directly lose their homes are still struggling.
Jobs lost due to wildfires
Frank Tamborello, director of Hunger Action Los Angeles, said thousands have lost their jobs and may now have trouble feeding their families.
“You have a lot of people who didn’t lose their homes but are housekeepers, maintenance workers and others who have lost a lot of clients,” Tamborello pointed out. “They live all over the county, so their food situation has been impacted as they’ve lost income.”
Tamborello predicted some families will need ongoing assistance for months, long after as the initial outpouring of aid dries up. In addition, some communities like Altadena and Pacific Palisades have lost their main grocery stores. Altadena lost three, as Aldi, Grocery Outlet and Super King all burned to the ground, so people there have to travel farther to get groceries. It can be challenging for those with disabilities or who may have lost their car or other transportation in the fires.
Alba Velasquez, executive director of the Los Angeles Food Policy Council, said the fire also has taken a toll on local agriculture.
“Many farmers in the impacted regions are dealing with destroyed crops, damaged infrastructure and loss of revenue,” Velasquez noted. “Additionally, air quality issues caused by the fires can have a lasting impact on crops and livestock health.”
Advocates said they will work to address the issues with policymakers as agencies begin distributing disaster aid.
Wildfire update
Meanwhile, the battle to put out the two major wildfires burnings in the Los Angeles area continues today. The disastrous Palisades fire is now 22 % contained. The death toll there stands at six. At least 5 thousand structures, mostly homes, destroyed by the flames. As for the deadly Eaton fire in the unincorporated town of Altadena, it is now 55% contained. More than 7 thousand structures destroyed and at least 16 people dead.
