Emergency resources for wildfire-affected residents in Los Angeles

Updated
Table of contents
Table of contents

As wildfires continue to affect Los Angeles residents and surrounding communities, organizations and agencies (as well as some private companies) have stepped forward to provide crucial support. Here are the available resources and how to access them.

Federal disaster assistance is available now

President Biden has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the L.A. fires, enabling residents and businesses in wildfire evacuation zones to access immediate and long-term federal relief.

Here's how you can apply for assistance:

Get in-person help with your FEMA application

Starting Tuesday, January 14, FEMA officials will be at the following Disaster Resource Centers to help residents access federal relief in-person:

Westside:

  • UCLA Research Park West – 10850 West Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064

Eastside:

  • Pasadena City College Community Education Center – 3035 E. Foothill Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91107

On Tuesday, January 14, the hours for in-person FEMA assistance are from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Starting Wednesday, January 15, the hours will be 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Available relief programs for the L.A. fires (as of January 9, 2025)

For residents and homeowners:

  • Temporary displacement assistance covering hotel costs for up to two weeks
  • Up to $770 for essential personal items
  • Direct grants for critical needs including medical bills and car repairs

For businesses and property owners:

Credit card purchase protection

Credit card companies typically protect personal property against damage or theft for up to 120 days after purchase. Major credit card companies that offer purchase protection include:

Food assistance

Buy hot food with your CalFresh (SNAP) benefits

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Ventura Counties can temporarily use food stamps to purchase hot meals from January 10 to February 8, 2025.

Report food lost to fire, evacuations, or power outages for replacement CalFresh benefits

SNAP recipients in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Riverside counties have until February 5, 2025 to report food loss related to the fires. The typical 10-day reporting period for disaster events has been temporarily suspended. Counties determine on a case-by-case basis whether to provide full or partial benefit replacement.

Replace CalFresh benefits in:

L.A. County

Ventura County

Riverside County

Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) has not been announced yet (as of January 14, 2025)

Disaster CalFresh (D-CalFresh or D-SNAP) emergency benefits for households not enrolled in regular SNAP have not yet been approved. This is likely to happen soon, so check back here for updates.

Free meal sites

The following aid organizations are providing meals and groceries to wildfire survivors and first responders:

Food delivery services

Instacart delivery fees on all grocery and daily essentials orders of $10 or more are waived for customers in L.A. County as of January 12, 2025. DoorDash has waived fees on all orders as of January 10.

Transportation assistance

Several transportation providers are offering emergency support as of January 9, 2025:

Rideshare services

  • Lyft: Riders in need can use the code CAFIRERELIEF25, valid for 2 rides up to $25 each ($50 total) for 500 riders from now until 1/15 at 11:59 p.m.
  • Uber: Use promo code WILDFIRE25 in the wallet section of your Uber app to redeem a free Uber ride up to $40.

Public transit

  • L.A. Metro: As of January 9, 2025, all fare collection has been temporarily suspended systemwide

Road closures

Emergency housing for people and pets affected by the L.A. fires

As of January 9, 2025, Airbnb, in partnership with 211 LA, is providing free temporary housing for displaced residents. Submit your information through this form to be notified when there’s availability. Keep in mind that space is limited—form submission does not guarantee placement.

Eligibility requirements:

  • You must have been displaced from your physical home due to the recent fires.
  • You must currently reside in an evacuation zone.
  • You must have an active Airbnb account or be able to create one.
  • You must be 18 years of age or older.

The following evacuation shelters are currently open as of January 9, 2025:

  • Arcadia Community Center – 375 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007
  • Ritchie Valens Recreation Center – 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Pacoima, CA 91331
  • Pan Pacific Recreational Center – 7600 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036
  • Westwood Recreation Center – 1350 Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025
  • El Camino Real Charter High School – 5440 Valley Circle Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA 91367
  • Pasadena Civic Center – 300 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101
  • Pomona Fairplex – 1101 W McKinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768

The following shelters are currently housing animals:

(Small animals)

  • Agoura Animal Care Center – 29525 Agoura Rd, Agoura Hills, CA 91301
  • Baldwin Park Animal Care Center – 4275 Elton St, Baldwin Park, CA 91706
  • Carson Animal Care Center – 216 W Victoria St, Gardena, CA 90248
  • Downey Animal Care Center – 11258 Garfield Ave, Downey, CA 90242
  • Lancaster Animal Care Center – 5210 W Ave I, Lancaster, CA 93536
  • Palmdale Animal Care Center – 38550 Sierra Hwy, Palmdale, CA 93550

(Large animals)

  • Pomona Fairplex – 1101 W McKinley Ave. Pomona
  • Industry Hills Expo – 16200 Temple Ave, City of Industry, CA 91744
  • Antelope Valley Fair – 2551 W Avenue H, Lancaster, CA 93536

What to do if your home was destroyed

If you’re a homeowner and lost your home in the ongoing wildfires, start a claim with your home insurance company as soon as possible. Check your policy to make sure, but you may be able to get some of your payout immediately, or have your temporary housing paid for by the insurance company.

Because the L.A. fires resulted in an official state of emergency, your insurance company may be required to immediately pay you for:

  • At least one-third of the estimated value of your personal belongings
  • At least four months’ worth of rent for the local area

A wildfire property claim may take several months or even years for your insurance provider to resolve. Here’s what to do to make the insurance process as smooth and efficient as possible:

  • Start a recovery diary now and take detailed notes of every time your contact your insurance company about your claim, including who you talked to and what you discussed
  • Keep records and receipts of any hotel bills and evacuation costs
  • If it’s safe, take photos and inventory of the damage and what remains before any cleanup or debris removal

Some banks and mortgage lenders may have also temporarily paused mortgage repayments. Contact your bank for more information.

If you’re a renter, your renter’s insurance may cover the cost of any lost belongings and temporary housing. Check with your insurance company to find out what kind of protection you have.

Essential apps for staying informed about the L.A. fires

Watch Duty

This app provides a map-based interface showing active wildfires across the U.S., with flame icons indicating current fire locations.

Genasys Protect

A community safety platform where local officials share:

Health and mental health support

Emergency medical care

If you need immediate medical attention:

  • Visit an urgent care location
  • Go to the nearest hospital emergency department
  • Call 911

Free online medical care

Telehealth provider Sesame is partnering with California providers to offer free virtual healthcare appointments for individuals who have been displaced from their homes or are unable to access their usual medical facility, provider, or pharmacy. Access no-cost telehealth visits, prescription refills, and more—no health insurance required.

Mental health support

24/7 mental health helpline for emergency and clinical services: 1 (800) 854-7771

This information will be updated as additional resources become available. Please share this guide with anyone who might need assistance.