California cities go above and beyond mutual aid to help communities impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires

By Brian Hendershot, Cal Cities Advocate managing editor

Cities throughout California responded en masse to the devasting fires that ripped through the Los Angeles metropolitan area and surrounding regions earlier this month. 

The most visible response efforts were the thousands of firefighters deployed to the area, with many crews driving through the night. “The conditions down there are so horrific that our members were put straight to work, and they have not stopped working ever since,” Captain Justin Sylvia with the Sacramento Fire Department told ABC 10 earlier this month.  Orange County Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy, one of the many Orange County firefighters active in the area, even saved two homes with beer and milk. 

Many cities also set up relief efforts. Truckee Town Council Member Courtney Henderson organized a literal donation drive with several other Sierra Nevada towns. She personally delivered roughly 7,500 pounds of essential goods to the Los Angeles Dream Center.

“A lot of folks say that rural communities are small,” Henderson said. We’re small, but we’re mighty, especially when we band together, we can support our urban counterparts. We truly are one California.”

Some local officials even donated their time and expertise in addition to already existing city efforts. Carlsbad Council Member Priya Bhat-Patel helped send several U-Hauls worth of goods donated by her students, the business community, residents, and other city officials from the North San Diego County area to the Dream Center.

The city of Carlsbad is an amazing community,” Bhat-Patel said. “I’ve seen them step up in times of need. We had our own fire back in 2014 and folks pitched in when they were able to. I saw similar sentiments in this particular regard. Seeing not only our business community but also folks in Carlsbad and North San Diego county in general wanting to give in whatever capacity they could was heartwarming.”

Cities in the LA area — many already struggling with poor air quality, fire conditions, and high wind — also responded in force. In Long Beach, city officials raised over half a million dollars for relief efforts in under 48 hours and provided a safe haven for impacted veterans. 

“If that’s not inspiring, I don’t know what is,” Mayor Rex Richardson said during the state of the city. “We’re not stopping. We’re going to keep going.”

Paramount also organized a donation drive, with the items scheduled for distribution through the LA Regional Food Bank later this week. Lakewood sent city staff to support the Care Camp Program, which aims to support families affected by the Eaton fire. Both cities used their platforms to connect residents with verified relief efforts. 

“That’s what cities do to help each other in times of need as part of California’s mutual aid and emergency management system,” Lakewood City Manager Thaddeus McCormack said. “Lakewood is proud to have helped our neighbors in this instance … just as we know our neighbors would be there to help us in a time of need.”

“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the devastating LA wildfires as they recover and rebuild,” said Paramount Mayor Annette C. Delgadillo. “We’ve been truly moved by the outpouring of support from our residents during our donation drive. Thanks to their kindness, we’ve been able to collect over three truckloads of essential items and food to help those in need. It’s a touching reminder that we can make life-changing differences when we come together.”

Many cities are also looking at long-term relief efforts. To the east of LA, the La Quinta City Council unanimously agreed to allow temporary rule changes at rental properties housing fire victims. 

“You can’t figure it out in a weekend,” Mayor Linda Evans told The Desert Sun. “Those folks aren’t going to come out here to party — they’ve got to put their lives back together.”