WASHINGTON — Thousands of IAFF members are working tirelessly to contain the Los Angeles wildfires, which have burned an area larger than San Francisco, destroyed thousands of structures, and claimed at least 24 lives since igniting on January 7. Fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds and dry conditions, the fires have scorched over 45 square miles.
At least 180 IAFF members live in the affected areas, with nine confirmed to have lost their homes. The IAFF is processing disaster relief applications and offering peer support to those impacted, the labor organization stated in a press release.
“Our members are working around the clock to protect Californians,” IAFF President Edward Kelly said. “We’ll support them and their families every step of the way.”
IAFF leaders, including Kelly and General Secretary-Treasurer Frank Líma, are coordinating resources and assistance for members battling the blazes.
Several companies have donated resources including Nationwide, which donated $50,000, and Tesla provided Starlink access to support internet connectivity. Resources will be distributed from the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112 headquarters, where a command center is set up.
You can support members impacted by the California fires with a tax-deductible donation to the IAFF Foundation.
