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Climate and Environment

Fire recovery: Victims and evacuees can get started with these resources

By  Jill Replogle
Updated Feb 19, 2025 9:35 AM
Published Jan 8, 2025 4:53 PM
About a dozen people, young and older, at a shelter inside a basketball gym with white and blue walls.
Evacuees from the Palisades Fire at an evacuation and shelter center at Westwood Recreation Center.
(
Agustin Paullier
/
AFP
)

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Among the few bright spots when disasters hit are the ways in which community members and businesses step up to support those who need it most. The state and county have both set up websites designed to be one-stop shops for victims of the fires that tore through L.A. neighborhoods in January:

  • LA County Recovers is a county site which includes the latest news on the recovery process, how to apply for disaster aid, get tax relief and connect with key county agencies like the department of child support services.
  • This state website has links to get help online with food, housing, and replacing documents, and information on the process to clean up and return to neighborhoods.

LAist is also maintaining this list of places where you can get a shower, shelter, food and more.

Wildfire fact checks
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Note that this is an evolving list. Needs and supplies will shift and change in the days and weeks ahead. Check social media channels before you head out in case supplies or needs have changed. You could try calling as well, but know that many places will not have the capacity to staff phone lines.

Also: Read our story on what experts say is the best way to help fire victims in need.

If you have a question — or if you know a resource that should be on this list — please let us know.

Do you have a question about the wildfires or fire recovery?
Check out LAist.com/FireFAQs to see if your question has already been answered. If not, submit your questions here, and we’ll do our best to get you an answer.

_

Housing/shelter

  • 211 LA is partnering with Airbnb to offer free temporary shelter for people displaced from their homes by fire. Start by filling out this form.
  • Hilton is making 20,000 free hotel room nights available to people affected by the fires. If you've already filled out an application with 211 LA (see above), you don't need to apply separately. If you haven't filled out an application, start here.
  • The local hotel association is maintaining a list of hotels in and around L.A. with available space, including whether and what kind of discounts they're offering to fire victims and evacuees.

Transportation

  • LA Metro is offering free fares while fire conditions exist. All rail lines are running their regular service. Find the latest service alerts due to the fires here. LA Metro also has a map of donation and evacuation centers, animal care centers, and other resources near Metro lines.
  • LA Metro has also modified eligibility requirements for its reduced fare program to help fire victims get back on their feet. They're helping people enroll at FEMA recovery centers and Red Cross shelters.

Replacing documents

L.A. County residents directly impacted by fires can request property records, business filings, and vital records (like birth and marriage certificates) free of charge to help with recovery efforts.

Childcare

  • YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles is opening its locations that aren't affected by the fires for temporary shelter, showers, basic amenities, and mental health support. They have also teamed up with L.A. Unified School District to provide childcare services for essential workers and affected families until schools reopen. Register on their website.
  • L.A. County is offering free day camps for children ages 5-17 from homes under mandatory evacuation or otherwise significantly impacted by the fires. Monday through Friday through Jan. 31. As of Jan. 23, there was a waitlist. More information here.
  • L.A. City's Recreation and Parks Department is offering day camps and teen centers for kids impacted by the Palisades fire through Jan. 31 at Mar Vista Recreation Center and Oakwood Recreation Center, although there were also waitlists for these programs as of Jan. 23. More info, or to be added to the waitlist, on their website.

Family reunification assistance

  • If you need assistance locating or connecting with someone impacted by the wildfires, or you want to inform your family of your safety, the Red Cross may be able to help. Complete this Red Cross Inquiry form or contact the Red Cross at (800) 675-5799

FEMA claims

If you have experienced a loss during these fires, please file a FEMA claim so they can help begin the process of securing you the aid you deserve.

Disaster Resource Centers — which are intended to be a one-stop shop for fire victims and can help with a variety of needs beyond FEMA claims — are open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the following locations:

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Westside

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

Eastside

  • Altadena Disaster Recovery Center, 540 W Woodbury Rd., Altadena

For a full list of FEMA resources, visit FEMA.gov/disaster/4856

LAist Cheat Sheet: These are the steps fire victims need to take to make an insurance claim

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Price gouging

School closures

Laptops and internet service

  • Digital equity nonprofit Human-I-T is offering fire victims free laptops and hotspots with three months of free internet service. Fill out a simple form to get more information.

Evacuation centers

For animals/pets

If you lost a pet in the Eaton Fire or have found a pet, call the Eaton Fire Animal Rescue Hotline: 626-577-3752.

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If you need help retrieving a pet from an evacuation area, call 213-270-8155.

If you were evacuated from within the city of L.A. and need help finding a lost pet, call 213-270-8155.

You can also report lost or found pets online though PetCo's Love Lost system.

Small animal shelters:

Large animal shelters

Other resources for furry and four-legged friends:

  • spcaLA is also taking in animals affected by the fires, 5026 W. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles
  • Dogtopia of East Pasadena is offering three free overnight stays for pups from families displaced by fire and a 50% discount afterwards, (626) 699-8577 
  • Savage Ranch in Temecula is offering shelter to people with horses, several rooms, plus space for RVs and trailers. DM or reach out through their website for info
  • Hatch Ranch in Tehachapi is also offering space for people with horses or other animals

Health/Mental Health

  • All L.A. Public Library branches are giving out free N95 masks.
  • If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs immediate help, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or visit the 988 website for online chat.
  • The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a Disaster Distress Helpline for disaster victims experiencing anxiety, stress, or other emotional distress. Callers can talk with a trained counselor 24/7 in multiple languages, (800) 985-5990

For displaced businesses and nonprofits

  • The county has launched a portal for displaced businesses and nonprofits in need of temporary space to operate.
  • The co-working firm Industrious is offering free office hours and other resources for fire victims. Find a location near you here.
  • The co-working firm International Workplace Group (Spaces, Regus, HQ) is also offering free work space for fire victims. Download the app on the App Store or Google Play or call (800) 633-4237, then present a business card at one of the locations, and register for the day.
  • Boomtown Brewery in the Arts District is offering to open its tap room during the day for those who need a place to be and/or WiFi, email or DM on Instagram

Food, rest, recharge, rebuild

  • EBT Users impacted by the recent wildfires in California can now use EBT benefits to purchase hot, ready-to-eat meals in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino and Kern counties. This benefit is available until Feb. 8, 2025. Details here.
  • Planet Fitness locations in L.A. are offering anyone affected by the fires, including first responders, free access to their facilities, including showers, massage chairs, locker rooms, and WiFi. Contact the club near you for more information and hours
  • Chuze Fitness is also opening its doors to fire victims and first responders. Find a location near you here.
  • AT&T is offering people in fire-affected areas unlimited talk, text and data through Feb. 6 (if you don’t already have an unlimited plan). Check their website for a list of included ZIP codes
  • T-mobile is also offering unlimited talk, text and data to customers in cities affected by the fires through Feb. 15.
  • Verizon has a free wifi spot open at 23841 Malibu Rd., Malibu from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Odyssey Games in Pasadena is offering their shop to evacuees to charge cell phones, use the restroom, and grab a snack, 1795 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
  • Octavia's Bookshelf is collecting water, air purifiers, and gift cards for fire victims. The store is transitioning to be a healing center for fire victims, with plans to offer therapy sessions, writing workshops and more. Watch their Instagram account for updates, 1353 N. Hill Ave., Pasadena
  • U-Haul is offering 30-days of self-storage and U-box rentals for free to fire evacuees and affected families: 92 facilities are participating, in L.A., Orange County, the Inland Empire and elsewhere. Check this document for contact info

Other resource lists

Note: This is a work in progress. We will update this list as more information becomes available.

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