San Diego County Valley Fire Response

9/10/20 Update: Our Philanthropy California alliance has launched a full statewide resource page for the California Fire Season. Please visit here for the latest updates, funding resources and to search for funds by region.

Operational Status

San Diego Grantmakers is fully operational at this time.

Overview of San Diego Valley Fire

SDG is working with key state and local partners to monitor the Valley Fire, compiling vetted funds, resources, and events on this response page.

From our partners at CalFire: The Valley Fire continues to show rapid rates of spread being pushed by a westerly wind and burning to the east towards communication towers at Mt. Pinos Mountain and the communities of Corte Madera. Fire crews continue point protection for threatened property while constructing direct and indirect fire lines to secure the fire to the east. Crews to the west are diligently constructing hand and dozer lines to secure the west facing firelines. Extremely hot and dry weather continue to make conditions difficult for firefighters and the public. Additional evacuations were put in place today to the east of the fire. Anticipated Red Flag Warning Event starting in the afternoon for a strong offshore wind poses the potential for extreme fire behavior and rapid rates of spread.

For the most up to date information on evacuation orders for The Valley Fire, please go visit CalFire >

Support Immediate Local Response

The San Diego Foundation has activated the San Diego Regional Disaster Fund to collect and manage charitable funds for response and recovery from the Valley Wildfire currently impacting the Japatul Valley, Carveacre, Lawson Valley, Wood Valley, Lyons Valley and Deer Horn Valley southeast of Alpine in San Diego County. Donations can be made online at SDFoundation.org/DisasterFund.

The fund will receive donations and make grants to nonprofit organizations engaged in disaster response, recovery and rebuilding. Funds granted through the San Diego Regional Disaster Fund will be based on a community needs assessment that leverages third party data, research and analysis to determine where the greatest needs are within the impacted area of the region.

Support Statewide Response

As disasters resulting from natural hazards become more prevalent in the state of California, the League of California Community Foundations has established a fund to provide a centralized opportunity for funders to invest in disaster resilience and response through community foundations – trusted intermediaries who are deeply connected to affected communities.

The Disaster Relief, Recovery, and Resilience Fund will support the response to, recovery from, and resilience to natural hazard events for communities across the state of California. A key focus area of the fund is supporting resilience through disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness, in addition to disaster relief and recovery. Through a statewide coalition of community foundations, funds will:

Relief

• Provide emergency disaster response for individuals, families, and communities
• Fill critical gaps in local safety net services that may include food and housing security, physical and mental health access and support, and emergency assistance

Recovery

• Support the long-term recovery of impacted individuals, families, and communities
• Support the capacity of organizations to provide long-term recovery services
• Support case management, project management and construction management associated with recovery
• Support community-based leadership activities such as convening long-term recovery committees

Resilience

• Prepare for and minimize damage from catastrophic events
• Invest in hazard mitigation and prevention for communities at risk of and impacted by natural hazards
• Support coordinated planning with public/private sector entities, reduce duplication of efforts, and increase the overall effectiveness of disaster prevention and preparedness activities

Learn more and contribute here.

Critical Needs in Fire Disasters

The following summary is provided by the Center for Disaster Philanthropy.

• Immediate needs include shelter, food, evacuation support, family reconnection, wage replacements, health care and case management. Due to COVID-19, evacuation supports will require additional resources to accommodate non-congregate housing.
• Recovery needs for each wildfire area vary, but attention should be given to long-term support for rehousing, income recovery, agricultural needs and additional preparedness support to vulnerable populations. Due to the continuing threat of fire combined with the stress of the pandemic, there will be a significant demand for mental health and counseling services.
• Many of the areas with fires are critical agricultural communities where laborers are often migrant workers or undocumented individuals. Many of them are impacted economically due to wildfire evacuations or temporary closure of work sites. Support and information needs to be provided in the appropriate languages and with cultural competency.
• As with most disasters, cash donations are recommended by disaster experts as they allow for on-the-ground agencies to direct funds to the greatest area of need, support economic recovery and ensure donation management does not detract from disaster recovery needs.
• Many firefighters are volunteers and responding to a fire could result in a loss of their primary income source, so support is needed to support their basic needs.