Reflecting on the Pacific Palisades Fire (Poem, Resources & How to Donate)
Not every voiceover is created equal
I want to take a moment today to express my deepest sympathies to everyone affected by the recent Pacific Palisades fire and those in the surrounding communities of Los Angeles. As someone who grew up in Los Angeles County, not far from where these California wildfires are destroying everything, this situation has truly hit close to home.
This blog post is a small attempt to offer a sense of solidarity and to provide some helpful resources for this community during these challenging times.
Reflecting on the Palisades fire with poetry
At a time like this, it can be difficult to reflect on the many emotions I’ve felt as this devastation has unfolded. But it’s important for me to express these emotions in a way that’s organic and meaningful to me: through poetry and the written word. So I want to start by sharing a poem I wrote about the fire, which I hope you’ll find some solace in …
Pacific Palisades, a poem
Ashes leave only memories and fears.
California dreams leaving a puddle of tears.
Insurance companies manage their risks
At the expense of the innocent—greed wins.
Burn, fire, burn for the sins we commit.
Politicians caught lying but won’t admit.
Humanity lost.
Firefighters and health workers give us hope.
Pacific Palisades, a city of love that will learn to cope.
What we know about the Palisades fire
You don’t have to be from LA to be shocked by these fires. But in case you haven’t been following it as closely as I have, here’s what we know so far…
The Palisades fire is actually one of several wildfires that has been ravaging different parts of Los Angeles County. It’s believed that a brush fire started in the LA neighborhood of Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7. But strong winds and dry conditions caused the fire to spread out of control.
At the time of this writing, over 13,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed by the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst and Auto fires. At least 24 people have died.
Why it matters
To see any community destroyed by a natural disaster like this is absolutely heartbreaking. But the situation in Pacific Palisades is unique.
For me, it’s especially shocking to see a familiar neighborhood literally go up in flames. This is a heavily populated area of Southern California, in one of the biggest cities in the United States, and thousands of people have just lost everything in a matter of days. It’s a terrifying, tragic situation.
A neighborhood with a storied history
Also, Pacific Palisades is both culturally and historically significant because it’s home to many well-known artists, actors and people within the entertainment industry. In the early 1900s, as LA’s film studios grew, Pacific Palisades became a popular residential community because of its beautiful location on the coast and proximity to Hollywood.
In fact, many well-known TV shows and movies have filmed scenes in Pacific Palisades, including Carrie, Baywatch, Freaky Friday and Teen Wolf, just to name a few. (Many of the structures featured in these scenes have been destroyed by the fire.)
While it’s true that this is an affluent community where some high-profile celebrities live, it’s also home to tens of thousands of other people, many of whom don’t have anything to do with the film industry at all. These families have lost not just their homes but all of their possessions.
How you can help victims, first responders and the LAFD
There are a few ways you can help the people affected by the California wildfires, depending on where you’re located.
Monetary Donations:
If you’re able to provide a financial donation, Los Angeles officials are encouraging people to donate to the following organizations below. First responders with LAFD and health workers are already providing on-the-ground support to victims and their families, so they have the greatest need for monetary donations:
- California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund
- American Red Cross
- Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation (LAFD)
- Pasadena Humane Society
Volunteering:
If you’re local, there are several organizations currently asking for volunteers in a variety of roles:
- L.A. Works – several volunteer opportunities for providing housing, family support, food, supplies and more.
- LAIT911 – assistance with disaster response and recovery efforts, including delivery of donated supplies.
- Check with your local community groups and/or religious organizations for additional opportunities to help.
If YOU need help
First and foremost, if you live in the areas affected by the fires in Southern California, please stay safe and follow all orders for evacuations.
For recovery resources within Los Angeles County, visit recovery.lacounty.gov to access local, state, federal and non-profit recovery resources in one location.
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