Resources for those affected by the 2025 fires in Los Angeles

PEN America is an organization of writers and their allies, and that solidarity is never more important than when members of our literary community face crisis. While the true scope of the devastation of the wildfires will take months to assess, PEN America has launched the 2025 Los Angeles Wildfires Emergency Grant Program to respond to the emergent needs of our community. Details and application instructions can be found by clicking the button below.
If you are in a position to support this fund, we encourage you to donate by clicking the button below.
Whether you need support or want to provide support, please see below an ongoing list of community resources.
This list will continue to be updated as resources become available/unavailable.
Fire/Wind watch and update: Watch Duty, https://www.watchduty.org/
MutualAidLA: (@mutualaidla) on social media – posts with individual opportunities and small business help for evacuation assistance, volunteering, pet fostering, business help, etc., spreadsheet of resources, here.
Interactive Fire Aid Map: resources compiled by Johan, on social media, with locations of services, here or https://www.fireaid.info/
LA County Resources for Emergencies: For LA County residents, visit https://lacounty.gov/emergency for real-time emergency updates, resources, and evacuation instructions.
LATimes: A compilation of resources from storage to childcare, to hair and beauty products to food resources, updated periodically, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-10/heres-a-list-of-free-and-discounted-resources-for-victims-of-los-angeles-area-fires.
Immediate needs:
Emergency Shelters:
- Westwood Recreation Center (1350 S. Sepulveda, Los Angeles, 90025) – Will accept people and pets.
- El Camino Real Charter High School (5440 Valley Circle Blvd., Woodland Hills, 91367)
- Ritchie Valens Recreation Center (10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Pacoima, 91331) – Will accept people and pets.
- Pasadena Convention Center (300 E. Green, Pasadena 91101)
Animals:
- Agoura Animal Care Shelter (small pets)
- Pierce College Equestrian Center (large animals)
- Pasadena Humane (pets)
- Hansen Dam Equestrian Center (large animals)
- Downey Animal Care Center (small animals)
- Pico Rivera Sports Arena (large animals)
- Compton Cowboys (horses)
- Baldwin Park Animal Care Center (small animals)
- Carson Animal Care Center (small animals)
Temporary Housing/Storage:
- LA 211 has paired up with Airbnb, and anyone who has been evacuated because of the fires can stay at an Airbnb for one week free of charge. They are specifically focused on residents who have either lost their home or been forced to evacuate in the Altadena, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Santa Monica and Sylmar areas. Impacted residents can request assistance for temporary housing support from Airbnb.org by filling out this intake form with 211 LA.
U-Haul has made 92 company facilities in Southern California available to offer its 30-day free self-storage and U-Box container disaster relief program to help evacuees and affected families. The following regions can be contacted to check for participating locations:
- U-Haul Co. of Los Angeles West (13 stores), 310-532-9503
- U-Haul Co. of North Orange County (12 stores), 714-525-4717
- U-Haul Co of Riverside (7 stores), 951-485-2007
- U-Haul Co. of San Bernardino (12 stores), 909-885-4378
- U-Haul Co. of San Fernando Valley (11 stores), 661-298-8222
- U-Haul Co. of Van Nuys/San Luis Obispo (14 stores), 818-988-7008
Transportation Resources:
- Lyft – Riders in need can use the code CAFIRERELIEF25, valid for 2 rides up to $25 each ($50 total) for 500 riders until 1/15 at 11:59 p.m.
- Uber – Use promo code WILFIRE25 in the wallet section of your Uber app to redeem a free Uber ride up to $40
- LA Metro Systems continue their no fare travel during the wildfire conditions. Be sure to check for line updates/suspensions via alerts.metro.net or (@MetroLAAlerts) on social media.
Free Showers, Wifi, and Charging Stations:
- Residents, first responders, and others affected by the fires have free access to locker rooms, showers, HydroMassage loungers, electrical outlets, and Wi-Fi until Jan. 15 at Planet Fitness locations across Los Angeles that have not been impacted. No membership needed.
Food/Water Pick-ups:
- World Central Kitchen: free meal locations updated here: https://wck.org/news/meal-locations-ca
- Hollywood Food Coalition: 5939 Hollywood Blvd, can call 323-347-7907 for curbside, masked pick-up
- Water Drop LA: Grassroots organization combating water insecurity in Southern California, waterdropla.org.
Bottled Water pickup locations:
- 450 N Lake Avenue, Pasadena
- 741 S Gretna Green Way, West LA
- Westwood Recreation Center, 1350 S Sepulveda Blvd
Mental Health Resources:
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): NAMI’s Warm Line: 310-889-7200
- No Cost Sessions for those affected by the fires: Southern California Counseling Center, [email protected] or www.sccc-la.org
- Teledoc: free virtual appts for those affected by the fires, call 855-225-5032
- LA County Arts Eds Community Self-Care Sessions: A self and community care open session for adults who support young people in Los Angeles County, register here: https://learn.wellbeing4la.org/detail?id=401656&k=1733849234
- Scribble Community: Highland Park Non profit counseling center– compiling list of clinicians to see clients for free to low fee, fill out google form. 5541 York Blvd, 90042 https://linktr.ee/scribblecommunity https://www.scribblecommunity.com/ or (@scribble.community) on socials
PPE/ Air Filter resources:
- Mask Bloc LA: mutual aid project, access to free masks, https://linktr.ee/maskblocla and air quality information (@maskblocla) on socials
Clothing/Hygiene Resources:
- Community Loving: Hygiene and other basic necessities (also accepting donations), in El Segundo, [email protected]
- Project Ropa: Clothing, hygiene items, blankets, etc. pick-up in Gardenia, as well as services around LA, service schedule here (https://www.projectropa.org/our-schedule/), [email protected] or @projectropa on socials
Disability Resources:
- Disability and Disaster Hotline: [email protected] or 800-626-4959
- Disability Rights CA: legal assistance with inaccessible shelters, service dog access to shelters, access to medicine, inaccessible disaster alerts, 1-800-776-5746
- SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition: Silverlake Community Church, Sat. 12:30-3:30pm, has accessible parking
- Richard Devylder Disaster Relief Fund: for those with disabilities affected by disasters in CA to cover hotel stays, replace lost assistive devices, etc., disabilitydisasteraccess.org/rd-relief-fund
- Inevitable Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: for creatives with disabilities, inevitable.foundation/emergency-fund-apply
- United Spinal Disaster Relief Grant: for those with spinal cod injury/disease seeking disaster assistance, unitedspinal.org/disaster-relief-grant
Other resources:
Pharmacy and Medicine:
- Mickey Fine Pharmacy: accessing meds lost in fire, 433 N Roxbury Dr, Beverly Hills, CA, 90210, [email protected] or 310-271-6123 (wheelchair accessible)
- GoodRx: offering free online healthcare provider visits to get refills for essential medications or for fast and easy treatment for a variety of conditions, use code LA-GOODRX-CARE at https://www.goodrx.com/care
Arts/Creative Resources:
- Dramatists Guild Foundation: crisis relief grants for assist writers experiencing unexpected financial, personal, or medical crises, https://dgf.org/grants/ (check their eligibility requirements)
- Motion Picture and Television Fund: working to provide financial assistance and a multitude of social services to working and retired members of the entertainment community, call the hotline to learn more: 323-634-3888
- Entertainment Community Fund: Emergency Financial Assistance is available to eligible performing arts and entertainment professionals, If you are applying because you have been impacted by the California fires, please note the application will ask you to upload a list of documents. If you do not have access to these documents, upload a blank file. https://entertainmentcommunity.org/am-i-eligible-help
- National Endowment for the Arts: Grants and resource list for artists https://www.arts.gov/impact/disaster-readiness-recovery-for-the-arts-and-culture-sector
- California Arts Council: wildfire relief resources https://www.caforthearts.org/news/south-california-wildfire-resources
- Junior High: Arts community and immediate resource needs, https://juniorhighlosangeles.com/firerelief
- POT Studio LA: Free pottery classes for victims of the fire, https://www.potstudiola.com/pages/la-fires-recovery-pottery-classes
- FEMA: assistance for self employed https://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/fema-assistance-self-employed-equipment-tool-replacement
Book Stores/Libraries:
- LA County Libraries: Any locations outside of evacuation zones are open for use of Wifi, printing, community resources, educational resources for kids and teens, access to free online library, etc., https://lacountylibrary.org/message-on-wildfires/
- Children’s Books for Altadena: Gathering Funds to buy new books for the Altadena community’s children. Instagram: @cbforaltadena, email: [email protected]
- Octavia’s Bookshelf: Taking donations for local distribution from Eaton Fire losses. Will be open for drop offs of needed items and distributing those items throughout the coming weeks. Check their instagram for the most up to date needs and operations. 1353 N. Hill Ave, Pasadena https://www.octaviasbookshelf.com/ or (@octavias_bookshelf) on socials
- Underdog Bookstore: accepting donations and distributing necessary items like food, water, clothing, blankets, masks, also has Wifi & charging stations, 312 Myrtle Ave., Monrovia, 91016, https://www.underdogbookstore.org/about or (@underdogbookstore) on socials
- All Power Books: bookstore accepting donations and distributing masks, water, etc., available with Wifi and power/charging stations, 4749 W Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, 90016 https://allpowerbooks.org/pages/resources or (@allpowerbooks) on social media
Insurance Navigation Resources:
- NBC News- How to approach insurance claims, article here: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/la-fire-victims-insurance-claims-experts-steps-rcna187224
- Governmental assistance for victims of the wildfires (individuals, small business owners, etc. with FAQs): https://www.ca.gov/LAfires/
Children/Educational Resources:
- Read-alouds/virtual author visit compilation: curated by Kate Messner to supplement loss of school time, https://katemessner.com/read-alouds-resources-for-socal-schools-families/ Los Angeles-area YMCA locations unaffected by the wildfires are offering free child care for children of first responders, essential workers and families who have been displaced, evacuated or who have otherwise experienced loss, contact [email protected] for more information or to sign up.