Wild fire season at the tail end of each summer is not something anyone looks forward to. I have seen it devastate family homes and have several friends who lost their homes in the Camp Fire just two years ago. Each year I look for ways to help support the communities who suffer the losses of fires and this year, I am seeing the support first hand at the Fairgrounds.
Cal Fire activated the Alameda County Fairgrounds as a Staging Facility to help serve the community. In what felt like less than 24 hours, the Fairgrounds was transformed into a top-tier command center for the fires in Alameda County and across Northern California. Engines and teams from as far as Los Angeles County have stepped in to help with the fires in our area.
Alameda County Animal Services has helped bring evacuated animals to the Fairgrounds to give them a safe haven during this time. Some of the sweet animals who get to call the Fairgrounds home for now include baby goats, cows and horses. Over 150 animals are being loved and cared for by their staff.
Please note that Cal Fire’s Incident Command Post and the base camps does not have the infrastructure to accept any donations of any kind. Cal Fire encourages reaching out to American Red Cross and other organizations, such as the ones below, to see how you can assist those in need.
Everyday items that we have in our homes can be the perfect items to donate to those who have been displaced from their homes. Check with your local animal shelter or humane society to see if they have a wish list of items that you can send donations to for local animals who were displaced.
Interested in donating or seeing how you can help? Check out some of the links below to see what you can do to help our community.
Valley Humane Amazon Wish List
Alameda County Community Food Bank
California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Relief Fund
California Fire Foundation’s Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency (SAVE) program
