The Latino Community Takes to The Streets to Support The Victims of The Fires

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Tha Latino community; From day laborers to restaurants, bars, organizations and the general population, they took to the streets to help with cleaning tasks, health services, food and other activities.

The Latino community is stepping into action to help support victims of the deadly wildfires in Los Angeles County.

Many Latino-owned businesses, organizations, and community leaders throughout LA are offering resources, collecting donations for distribution, and raising funds to provide relief for victims of several wildfires.

There were four ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area as of Sunday: the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades area, the Eaton Fire north of Pasadena, the Kenneth Fire that’s straddling Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and the Hurst Fire in Sylmar, northwest of San Fernando.

According to county officials, the Palisades Fire has destroyed over 5,000 structures, while the Eaton Fire has damaged or destroyed an estimated 7,000 structures. More than 100,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes as the Santa Ana winds further exacerbate the situation. At least 16 fire-related deaths are being investigated by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, and many people are injured.

In Los Angeles County, more than 4.8 million people are Hispanic or Latino, the latest U.S. Census data shows. With deep roots in the region, many Latinos have taken initiatives to mobilize the community and provide support.
Support from the Latino community is also coming from around the world. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Friday that firefighters from Mexico were arriving to join the “more than 10,000 personnel already on the ground.”

“California is deeply grateful for President @ClaudiaShein’s support as we work to suppress the Los Angeles wildfires,” Newsom posted on X.

A spokesperson for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, told ABC News a total of 70 firefighters from Mexico, including three information officers, arrived Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, in the Boyle Heights neighborhood, Las Fotos Project, a nonprofit organization that mentors teenage girls and gender-expansive youth through photography, has created a bulletin-style database on its website where fire victims can describe their current needs and directly connect with people who can help them.

“We always say we find power in our stories and we find power in our communities. I really hope that this database can sustain people [and] support in the long term,” Helen Alonzo Hurtado, social enterprise director for Las Fotos Project, told ABCNews. “Two to three weeks from now, as folks are getting settled in their temporary housing and they’re realizing what it is that they need, they can put that there and then community members can respond.”

Day Laborers Form ‘Brigadas de Servicio” to Help Those Affected by Fires