Fire Relief Efforts in California

2008 Fire Season

Like all Californians, we have watched the fires ravaging our state. At its peak more than 2,000 individual wildfires burned over over 800,000 acres, threatened thousands of households, and led to the evacuation of several California counties. Even as conditions improve, knowledge of the total damage and displacement is still yet to be calculated. There still remains untold needs in the hardest hit communities related to health, housing, and environmental impact.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's website offers up-to-date information on tracking the fires. Visit their site, here.

Here is the latest information on the fire relief efforts:

• Butte County
• Mendocino County
• Monterey County

Butte County

North County Community Foundation Fire Funds:
North County Community Foundation has established several funds to assist on-the-ground relief organizations and victims of the fires.

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Mendocino Country

Community Foundation of Mendocino County Angel Fund:
After the fires, the Community Foundation of Mendocino County will be supporting re-building efforts through its Angel Fund, which has been helping organizations serving individuals in need for the past eight years.

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Monterey County

Coastlands Property Owners Association Big Sur Fire Relief Fund:
Coastlands Property Owners Association, a local non-profit organization serving Big Sur property owners, renters, and community members has set up a fire relief fund to help those who have been impacted by the Big Sur Basin Complex Fire.

KAZU Wildfire Updates:
NPR for the Monterey Bay Area KAZU 90.3 has established a Wildfire Updates website with information on the containment of the wildfires in the Monterey area.

KUSP Basin Complex Fire News & Resources:
Central Coast Public Radio KUSP 88.9 has established emergency websites with updated information on fire statistics, emergency resources, and community meetings about the Big Sur fire and the Indians Wildland fire.

Monterey-San Benito Counties Chapter of the American Red Cross Shelter:
The Monterey-San Benito Counties Chapter of the American Red Cross has opened an Evacuation Site / Shelter at Greenfield High School Cafeteria at 2025 El Camino Real in Greenfield for residents under voluntary evacuation order due to the Basin Complex fire burning in the Los Padres National Forest.

Monterey SPCA Animal Rescue:
Along with providing information on evacuating and/or returning with pets, the Monterey SPCA has also established a fund to support their fire rescue efforts.

SurFire2008.org
SurFire2008.org is a community bulletin board matching those in need with those who want to help.

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This, like all disasters, reminds us that our region is also vulnerable to such unexpected devastation. Last year, NCG launched its Disaster Preparedness and Response Initiative to foster and support disaster preparedness and response with the Bay Area's nonprofit and philanthropic sector. The NCG Initiative is launching into its second phase, which will be focused on providing education and resources to our members so that they and their grantees will be better prepared for a natural disaster. The Initiative will also provide leadership in establishing collaborative grantmaking after a disaster strikes. In the coming months NCG will provide new resources and opportunities to its members on this Initiative. We invite members to become involved in this effort in a range of ways, from providing us with information on your disaster related grantmaking to joining our Disaster Initiative Task Force.

For more information on this effort, please contact Dion Ward, Program Associate, at (415) 777-4111, ext. 23 or dward@ncg.org.

This list of fire related funds is not exhaustive, and donations may also be made to first responding organizations throughout the affected region. Please contact us at dward@ncg.org if you would like to add a fund to the list.

• Butte County
• Mendocino County
• Monterey County