klyrsmpsn:

cchapel:

California is on fire.

There are 60+ active fires happening right now in California, and each of them is being aided by strong winds and dry conditions. As of October 10th, there have been 17 confirmed deaths (expected to increase), up to 3,000 destroyed structures (also to increase), and over 20k evacuees fleeing into neighboring cities. The worst fires are currently burning in Sonoma, Napa, and Solano Counties, with entire cities like Santa Rosa under mandatory curfew and evacuation notices. Everyone in the effected counties is on alert for the moment the winds shift, and they have to leave. 

Neighboring cities, like Petaluma,  are opening every single door, with people offering beds, businesses offering food and shelter, the community pool offering showers, and every public building an evacuation center. The community as a whole has come together to help aide everyone who’s fleeing what’s being called one of the worst fires in California’s history. 

On top of this, the air quality in the Bay Area is at a SEVERE status, with schools closed in an attempt to keep kids indoors. People are being told to stay inside, and to avoid anything that will worsen their exposure to smoke that’s not just wood, but plastic, paint, metal, and more. The power has been out in some places, as well a cell service being impacted due to towers being destroyed. Gas has been cut off to 32 thousand customers as lines are close to the fire.  

Since October 8th, people in California have been waking up from a dead sleep to evacuation orders, their neighbors knocking on their doors, the police sounding sirens, and leaving everything. Social media has offered people with resources of where to go, who can help. Being from Sonoma County, I’ve never seen a such a response and have been touched by all of the help I see being given.

To help:

A youcaring page for the city of Santa Rosa 

North Bay Fire Victim’s Fund through a local credit union

Salvation Army’s Northern California Fund

Each fund gives 100% to disaster relief, which includes clothes, food, water, shelter, and in some cases, direct financial aid. 

Please reblog and spread the word!!!

Hi! My entire family is from Sonoma County and the surrounding areas. My cousins lost their homes. My uncle is a Santa Rosa firefighter and has been working nonstop since 2am Monday morning. The fire that I was evacuated from is still expanding and at 0% containment. Please give however possible. Anything helps at this point.