WAYS TO ASSIST OUR MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC
WILDFIRE RESPONSE AND RESOURCES 2025

View the recording of our Wildfire Disaster Response Task Force kickoff meeting on January 15. 
YOUTUBE LINK

AIA|LA Wildfire Response 2025: Sign Up to Volunteer

AIA Pasadena & Foothill Wildfire Volunteer Support Signup

Wildfires have a profound impact on communities, homes, and lives. Whether you’re directly affected, supporting those in need, or preparing for future risks, this page provides a comprehensive collection of resources to assist you. From emergency response tools and financial aid options to rebuilding guidance and mental health support, our goal is to empower individuals and organizations to navigate the challenges posed by wildfires and foster resilience for the future. Explore the resources below to find the help and information you need during this critical time.

RESOURCES

ArchitectsHelp: Resources from AIA California and ways you can assist

AIAs in California: Direct Aid and Recovery Initiatives and Programs (Airtable)

FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers

Give Financial Assistance to members, firms, and community members impacted by the Fire (AIA California)

Need Financial Assistance and/or Temporary Office Space (AIA California)

Offer Temporary Office Space

A Designer’s Guide to Navigating FEMA Programs (AIAU)
Learn how to harness FEMA’s funding and mitigation programs to support resilient communities. Live on AIAU January 16, 12pm Pacific time; free for members.
Register Here

 

Emergency Notifications – If you’re not already subscribed to emergency alerts, you can do so here:

– LAFD Alerts
– View LAFD Evacuation Map
– NotifyLA for real-time updates
– Los Angeles County Alerts
– Download the Watch Duty app to monitor active wildfires.

If you’re an iPhone user, ensure that emergency, public safety, and government alerts are turned on in your settings.

  • Report a Power Outage – Call 1-800-DIAL-DWP or go online here.
  • Downed Power Lines, Street Poles, and Trees – Use the MyLA311app, visit the website or dial 311.
  • Free Emergency Childcare through Friday, January 10 from 7:30am – 6pm for ages 5 and up at Ketchum-Downtown YMCA. Email JunaidRasul@ymcala.org or call (213) 639-7450.
  • Evacuation Centers: For those in evacuation zones below is a list of evacuation centers where you may take shelter. For your own safety, you must evacuate as soon as authorities ask. Small animals will only be accepted at city-run centers* (Boyle Heights City Hall & El Sereno District Office).

Boyle Heights City Hall* (2130 1st St)
El Sereno District Office* (5150 Huntington Dr S)
LA Mission (316 Winston St)
Los Angeles Presbyterian Church (2241 N Eastern Ave )
Resurrection Church (3324 Opal St)
Sacred Heart Catholic Church (2210 Sichel St)
Dolores Mission (171 S Gless St)
Exodus (640 Maple Ave) 

For those who are unhoused, please visit the LA Mission for assistance.

 

Mutual Aid Network Resources for the Palisades and Eaton Fires:
MALAN Fire & Wind Storm Resources – Google Drive

RESOURCES FROM USGBC – CA:
Supporting Our Community Through Wildfire Recovery

 

STAY SAFE

Check air quality data at airnow.gov

Where to Get Essentials

Air quality is currently being classified as hazardous due to the smoke; we strongly suggest that you stay indoors as much as possible. If you do need to leave the house for any reason, please take precautions by wearing a mask. Some areas of the city are currently under a boil water notice regarding tap water and as a result, we’re also sticking to bottled water. For essentials in Downtown LA, you can currently get face masks, bottled water, and food at these stores: Target, Whole Foods, Ralphs, CVS, and Walgreens.

Free and Discounted Resources for Victims of the Fires (LA Times)

  • If you have been displaced and are seeking temporary housing, you can go here
  • LA Unified School District Updates and meal distribution for LAUSD Students here
  • You can register for LA County Emergency Alerts here
  • For a trusted and locally-based guide to LA Services, you can go here
  • Mutual Aid LA’s List for a region-wide list of resources here
  • If you are able to, make a financial contribution to Wildfire Relief efforts here
  • If you are able to, support local American Red Cross Disaster Relief efforts here

 

GIVING BACK

Ways to Help

  • Support the LAFD Wildfire Emergency Fund to equip LAFD members battling wildfires with tools and supplies.
  • Support World Central Kitchen, founded by San Laurel and Agua Viva’s, Jose Andres. At the moment, World Central Kitchen’s Relief Team is in Southern California to support first responders and families impacted by wildfires in the Los Angeles area. Their teams and partners have mobilized across the region to provide nourishing meals to people in need. Sign up to volunteer or donate here.
  • Support American Red Cross Disaster Response by applying to be a Shelter Volunteer or donate to the Wildfire Relief Fund.

Financial donations can be made to the following non-profit entities:

 

Disaster Recovery Resources for Architects 

The new fires in southern California remind us there are many things architects can do to be prepared for disaster and to help their communities recover and rebuild after disasters. Keep in mind that we are losing some exceptional architectural gems in this fire, so we are all in grief about that. It is a tremendous loss of architectural heritage, on top of the real human tragedy that is occurring.

When a disaster occurs, property owners are often caught off guard and spend the initial days and months recovering documents, dealing with insurance, finding temporary accommodations, and starting to deal with debris removal. Plus, they are going through all the emotional stages of grief. Architects can be a great help to the community and the property owners through all of this, in ways that many do not realize, helping the community and property owners figure out innovative paths forward and setting realistic project timelines.

Then come the stages of redesign and rebuilding. Architects provide professional guidance during this time, bring leadership in resilience and innovative design strategies, and face new constraints due to insurance time frames and the like. How can an architect quickly learn about responding in disastrous times to the needs of their community?

AIA California now has a Toolkit available online for AIA components and architect members to reference to understand the landscape of disaster quickly and know how to contribute effectively.

  • Readiness includes all the activities that AIA components and their architect members can do to be prepared to be responsive before a disaster occurs in their community.
  • Response includes the ways that architects can assist in life safety, housing, building safety assessment, and volunteering at the disaster assistance center, in the immediate days after a disaster.
  • Recovery includes the support and assistance that architects can offer to communities in the months after a disaster as the community charts its best path forward regarding planning, permitting, and innovative new design strategies for resilience.
  • Rebuilding includes the architect’s design and construction contributions in the years after a disaster as the community rebuilds.
  • Review is the final phase, after recovery and rebuilding, where architects can review all they have accomplished and make a record of their successes including lessons learned and recommendations for the future.

The Toolkit has many suggestions and Resources to help components and members, allowing you to go right to the section relevant to your current situation. It can be accessed at this link:

AIA COMPONENT DISASTER RESPONSE TOOLKIT (PDF)

 

AIA California Webinar:  Component Disaster Response Toolkit

AIA CA has organized a virtual training on the new and improved Component Disaster Response Toolkit on February 4, 11am-12pm PT. This training is designed for AIA CA Staff, Board and Committee leaders, and all members who are interested in learning how they can help in the event of a disaster.

The training will be offered for 1 LU|HSW for those who attend live! Currently pending AIA approval.

Please feel free to share the invite or the Zoom registration information for this Toolkit training!

REGISTER:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/G9FKGT9XTgKiFX333nbV7Q

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. The training will be recorded and shared for those who were unable to attend live (CE not available for those who watch the recording).

 

MORE RESOURCES:  

This AIA CA link has all the resources our Resilient Design Subcommittee has collected over time:

https://aiacalifornia.org/news/hardening-for-wildfire-resilience/

 

View wildfire-related “What You Can Do Right Now” papers and wildfire-related webinars produced by AIA California at:

https://aiacalifornia.org/what-you-can-do-now

https://aiacalifornia.org/climate-action-webinars-archive/

FOR FURTHER RESEARCH:  

  •   Become familiar with and follow the recommendations found in the FEMA Technical Fact Sheet Series
  •   Become familiar with the white paper written by Joseph W. Lstiburek, Ph.D., P.Eng., Fellow ASHRAE for the Building Science Corporation which contains expert advice and details for several common fire hardening conditions. 
  •   Become familiar with local government Wildland Urban Interface requirements in the project area.
  •   Discuss options and opportunities for Wildfire resilience with your clients and consultants.
  •   Become familiar with local government incentives and insurance discounts available for wildfire mitigation measures.
  •   Recommend to your client that they should consider making their neighborhood a Fire Wise Community.

 

Citations/References