The Brief

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Among the few bright spots when disasters hit are the ways in which community members and businesses step up to support those who need it most. The state and county have both set up websites designed to be one-stop shops for victims of the fires that tore through L.A. neighborhoods in January:

• LA County Recovers is a county site which includes the latest news on the recovery process, how to apply for disaster aid, get tax relief and connect with key county agencies like the department of child support services.
• This state website has links to get help online with food, housing, and replacing documents, and information on the process to clean up and return to neighborhoods.

LAist is also maintaining this list of places where you can get a shower, shelter, food and more.

Note that this is an evolving list. Needs and supplies will shift and change in the days and weeks ahead. Check social media channels before you head out in case supplies or needs have changed. You could try calling as well, but know that many places will not have the capacity to staff phone lines.

Also: Read our story on what experts say is the best way to help fire victims in need.

If you have a question — or if you know a resource that should be on this list — please let us know.

Housing/shelter

• 211 LA is partnering with Airbnb to offer free temporary shelter for people displaced from their homes by fire. Start by filling out this form.
• Hilton is making 20,000 free hotel room nights available to people affected by the fires. If you've already filled out an application with 211 LA (see above), you don't need to apply separately. If you haven't filled out an application, start here.
• The local hotel association is maintaining a list of hotels in and around L.A. with available space, including whether and what kind of discounts they're offering to fire victims and evacuees.

Transportation

• LA Metro is offering free fares while fire conditions exist. All rail lines are running their regular service. Find the latest service alerts due to the fires here. LA Metro also has a map of donation and evacuation centers, animal care centers, and other resources near Metro lines.
• LA Metro has also modified eligibility requirements for its reduced fare program to help fire victims get back on their feet. They're helping people enroll at FEMA recovery centers and Red Cross shelters.

Replacing documents

L.A. County residents directly impacted by fires can request property records, business filings, and vital records (like birth and marriage certificates) free of charge to help with recovery efforts.

• Call 800-201-8999 (Option 1 followed by Option 2) or email recorder@rrcc.lacounty.gov
• Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk staff will also be available to help at the Local Assistance Centers set up for fire victims
• OR visit one of their branch offices

Childcare

• YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles is opening its locations that aren't affected by the fires for temporary shelter, showers, basic amenities, and mental health support. They have also teamed up with L.A. Unified School District to provide childcare services for essential workers and affected families until schools reopen. Register on their website.
• L.A. County is offering free day camps for children ages 5-17 from homes under mandatory evacuation or otherwise significantly impacted by the fires. Monday through Friday through Jan. 31. As of Jan. 23, there was a waitlist. More information here.
• L.A. City's Recreation and Parks Department is offering day camps and teen centers for kids impacted by the Palisades fire through Jan. 31 at Mar Vista Recreation Center and Oakwood Recreation Center, although there were also waitlists for these programs as of Jan. 23. More info, or to be added to the waitlist, on their website.

Family reunification assistance

• If you need assistance locating or connecting with someone impacted by the wildfires, or you want to inform your family of your safety, the Red Cross may be able to help. Complete this Red Cross Inquiry form or contact the Red Cross at (800) 675-5799

FEMA claims

If you have experienced a loss during these fires, please file a FEMA claim so they can help begin the process of securing you the aid you deserve.

Disaster Resource Centers — which are intended to be a one-stop shop for fire victims and can help with a variety of needs beyond FEMA claims — are open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the following locations:

Westside

• UCLA Research Park West, 10850 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles

Eastside

• Altadena Disaster Recovery Center, 540 W Woodbury Rd., Altadena

For a full list of FEMA resources, visit FEMA.gov/disaster/4856

LAist Cheat Sheet: These are the steps fire victims need to take to make an insurance claim

Sign up for alerts

• Sign Up for Emergency Alerts: Alert LA County | NotifyLA | Culver City Emergency Alerts

Price gouging

• Report incidents of price gouging to the Attorney General

School closures

• School closure information: LAUSD | CCUSD

Laptops and internet service

• Digital equity nonprofit Human-I-T is offering fire victims free laptops and hotspots with three months of free internet service. Fill out a simple form to get more information.

Evacuation centers

• Westwood Recreation Center: 1350 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Westwood (accepts small animals)
• Pasadena Civic Auditorium: 300 E Green St., Pasadena
• Stoner Recreation Center: 1835 Stoner Ave, Los Angeles
• Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Rec Center: 14201 Houston St., Sherman Oaks
• Hart High School: 24825 Newhall Ave., Santa Clarita *temporary*
  

For animals/pets

If you lost a pet in the Eaton Fire or have found a pet, call the Eaton Fire Animal Rescue Hotline: 626-577-3752.

If you need help retrieving a pet from an evacuation area, call 213-270-8155.

If you were evacuated from within the city of L.A. and need help finding a lost pet, call 213-270-8155.

You can also report lost or found pets online though PetCo's Love Lost system.

Small animal shelters:

• El Camino High School, 5440 Valley Circle Blvd, Woodland Hills
• Baldwin Park Animal Care Center, 4275 Elton St., Baldwin Park
• Carson Animal Care Center, 216 W. Victoria St., Gardena
• Downey Animal Care Center, 11258 Garfield Ave., Downey
• Lancaster Animal Care Center: 5210 W Ave I, Lancaster
• Palmdale Animal Care Center, 38550 Sierra Hwy.
• Pasadena Humane Society, 361 S. Raymond Ave.
  (Only accepts small animals within its jurisdiction)
  

Large animal shelters

• Pomona Fairplex: 1101 W Mckinley Ave., Pomona (receiving horses and dogs, temporary kennels)
• Industry Hills Expo: 16200 Temple Ave. (large animals)
• Pierce College: 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills
• Ventura County Fairgrounds: 10 E. Harbor Blvd., Ventura (Ventura County residents only)

Other resources for furry and four-legged friends:

• spcaLA is also taking in animals affected by the fires, 5026 W. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles
• Dogtopia of East Pasadena is offering three free overnight stays for pups from families displaced by fire and a 50% discount afterwards, (626) 699-8577 
• Savage Ranch in Temecula is offering shelter to people with horses, several rooms, plus space for RVs and trailers. DM or reach out through their website for info
• Hatch Ranch in Tehachapi is also offering space for people with horses or other animals

Health/Mental Health

• All L.A. Public Library branches are giving out free N95 masks.
• If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs immediate help, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or visit the 988 website for online chat.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a Disaster Distress Helpline for disaster victims experiencing anxiety, stress, or other emotional distress. Callers can talk with a trained counselor 24/7 in multiple languages, (800) 985-5990

For displaced businesses and nonprofits

• The county has launched a portal for displaced businesses and nonprofits in need of temporary space to operate.
• The co-working firm Industrious is offering free office hours and other resources for fire victims. Find a location near you here.
• The co-working firm International Workplace Group (Spaces, Regus, HQ) is also offering free work space for fire victims. Download the app on the App Store or Google Play or call (800) 633-4237, then present a business card at one of the locations, and register for the day.
• Boomtown Brewery in the Arts District is offering to open its tap room during the day for those who need a place to be and/or WiFi, email or DM on Instagram

Food, rest, recharge, rebuild

• EBT Users impacted by the recent wildfires in California can now use EBT benefits to purchase hot, ready-to-eat meals in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino and Kern counties. This benefit is available until Feb. 8, 2025. Details here.
• Planet Fitness locations in L.A. are offering anyone affected by the fires, including first responders, free access to their facilities, including showers, massage chairs, locker rooms, and WiFi. Contact the club near you for more information and hours
• Chuze Fitness is also opening its doors to fire victims and first responders. Find a location near you here.
• AT&T is offering people in fire-affected areas unlimited talk, text and data through Feb. 6 (if you don’t already have an unlimited plan). Check their website for a list of included ZIP codes
• T-mobile is also offering unlimited talk, text and data to customers in cities affected by the fires through Feb. 15.
• Verizon has a free wifi spot open at 23841 Malibu Rd., Malibu from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Odyssey Games in Pasadena is offering their shop to evacuees to charge cell phones, use the restroom, and grab a snack, 1795 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
• Octavia's Bookshelf is collecting water, air purifiers, and gift cards for fire victims. The store is transitioning to be a healing center for fire victims, with plans to offer therapy sessions, writing workshops and more. Watch their Instagram account for updates, 1353 N. Hill Ave., Pasadena
• U-Haul is offering 30-days of self-storage and U-box rentals for free to fire evacuees and affected families: 92 facilities are participating, in L.A., Orange County, the Inland Empire and elsewhere. Check this document for contact info

Other resource lists

• Mutual Aid LA Network has put together an extensive list of resources for fire evacuees and folks who want to help
• The Jewish Federation of Los Angeles has compiled a list of resources for fire victims and evacuees, including legal and mental health support
• LAist Cheat Sheet: A quick roundup of SoCal fire coverage and safety resources

Note: This is a work in progress. We will update this list as more information becomes available.

This story first appeared on The LA Local.

Since 1977, Richard Santillan has been to every Opening Day game at Dodger Stadium. 

“The tradition goes from my father, to me, to my children and grandchildren. Some of my best memories are with my father and children here at Dodger Stadium,” Santillan told The LA Local, smiling under the shade of palm trees near the entrance to the ballpark Wednesday morning. He was there to protest the team less than 24 hours before Opening Day.

Santillan, like countless other loyal Dodgers fans, is grappling with his fan identity over the team’s decision to accept an invitation to the White House and owner Mark Walter’s ties to ICE detention facilities.

More than 30 people joined Santillan on Wednesday morning for a press conference held near 1000 Vin Scully Drive to convey a message directly to the team. 

“We are demanding the Dodgers stop participating in funding of inhumane treatment of families and do not go to the White House to celebrate with the criminal in chief,” Evelyn Escatiola told the crowd. “Together, we have the power to make a change.”

Escatiola, a former dean of East Los Angeles College and longtime community organizer, urged fans to flex their economic power by “letting the Dodgers know that we do not support repression.”

Jorge “Coqui” Rodriguez, a lifelong Dodgers fan, spoke to the crowd and called on Dodgers ownership to divest from immigration detention centers owned and operated by GEO Group and CoreCivic.

Jorge Coqui H Rodriguez speaks at a press conference outside Dodger Stadium on March 25, 2026, to demand the Dodgers not to visit the White House following their 2025 World Series win.

(

J.W. Hendricks

/

The LA Local

)

In a phone interview a day before the protest, Rodriguez told The LA Local he did not want the Dodgers using his “cheve” or beer money to fund detention centers. 

“They can’t take our parking money, our cacahuate money, our cheve money, our Dodger Dog money and invest those funds into corporations that are imprisoning people. It’s wrong,” Rodriguez said. 

Rodriguez considers the Dodgers one of the most racially diverse teams and said the players need to support fans at a time when heightened immigration enforcement has become more common across L.A.

The team’s 2025’s visit to the White House drew ire from the largely Latino fan base, citing the Trump administration’s ongoing attacks on immigrants. 

In June, the team came under further scrutiny when rumors swirled online that federal immigration agents were using the stadium’s parking, which immigration authorities later denied in statements posted on social media accounts.

The team again came under fire after not releasing a statement on the impacts of ICE raids on its mostly Latino fan base at the height of immigration enforcement last summer. The team later agreed to invest $1 million to support families affected by immigration enforcement.

When he learned the Dodgers were pledging only $1 million to families in need, Rodriguez called the amount a  “slap in the face.” 

“These guys just bought the Lakers for billions of dollars and they give a million dollars to fight for legal services? That’s a joke,” Rodriguez said. “They need to have a moral backbone and not be investing in those companies.”

According to reporting from the Los Angeles Times, former Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershawsaid last week that he is looking forward to the trip.

“I went when President [Joe] Biden was in office. I’m going to go when President [Donald] Trump is in office,” Kershaw said. “To me, it’s just about getting to go to the White House. You don’t get that opportunity every day, so I’m excited to go.”

The Dodgers have yet to announce when their planned visit will take place. 

Santillan sometimes laments his decision to give up his season tickets in protest of the team. His connection to the stadium and the memories he has made there with family and friends will last a lifetime, he said. On Thursday, he will uphold his tradition and be there for the first pitch of the season, but with a heavy heart.

“It’s a family tradition, but the Dodgers have a lot of work to do,” he said.

A local favorite mom-and-pop bookshop in Eagle Rock is facing displacement due to a steep rent hike. The owners say theirs is just one of several small businesses along Eagle Rock Boulevard struggling to keep up with lease increases.

Over the past 19 years, many in the neighborhood have come to love READ Books for its eclectic collection of used titles and shop dog Florence.

Co-owner Jeremy Kaplan said it’s been a delight to grow with the community over the years.

“Like seeing kids come back in, who were in grade school and now they’re in college,” Kaplan said.

But the building where Kaplan and wife Debbie rent was recently sold, and the rent increased by more than 130% to $2,805 a month, Kaplan said. He told LAist it was an increase his small business simply could not absorb.

Kaplan said he originally was given 30 days notice of the rent increase. After some research, assistance from Councilmember Ysabel Jurado’s office and some pro-bono legal help, Kaplan said he pushed back and got the 90-day notice he’s afforded by state law.

California Senate Bill 1103 requires landlords to give businesses with five or less employees 90 days’ notice for rent increases exceeding 10%, among other protections.

Systems Real Estate, the property management company, did not immediately respond to LAist’s request for comment.

What can small businesses do? 

Nadia Segura, directing attorney of the Small Business Program at pro bono legal aid non-profit Bet Tzedek said California law does not currently allow for rent control for commercial tenancies.

Outside of the protections under SB 1103, Segura said small businesses like READ Books don’t have much other recourse. And even then, commercial landlords are not required to inform their tenants of their protections under the law.

“There’s still a lot of people that don’t know about SB 1103. And then it’s very sad that they tell them they have these rent increases and within a month they have to leave,” Segura said.

She said her group is seeing steep rent hikes like this for commercial tenants across the city.

“We are seeing this even more with the World Cup coming up, the Olympics coming up. And I will say it was very sad to see that also after the wildfires,” Segura said.

Part of Bet Tzedek’s ongoing work is to advocate for small businesses, working with landlords who are increasing rents to see if they are willing to give business owners longer leases that lock in rents.

What’s next 

After READ Books posted about their situation on social media, commenters chimed in to express their outrage and love for the little shop.

While he looks for a new spot, Kaplan says he’s forming a coalition of local businesses and activist groups to see what can be done to help other small businesses facing similar displacement. He wants to address the displacement issue for businesses like his, which have made Eagle Rock the distinctive neighborhood that it is today.

Owl Talk, a longtime Eagle Rock staple selling clothing and accessories in a unit in the same building as READ Books, is facing a “more than double” rent increase, according to a post on their Instagram account.

Kaplan said he’s been in touch with the office of state Assemblywoman Jessica Caloza and wants to explore the possibility of introducing legislation to set up protections for small businesses like his, including rent-control measures or a vacancy tax for landlords. Kaplan said he also reached out to the office of state Sen. Maria Durazo.

By his count, Kaplan said there are about a dozen businesses within surrounding blocks that are at risk of closing their doors or have shuttered due to rent increases or other struggles.

When READ Books was founded during the Great Recession, Kaplan said he knew it was a longshot to open a bookstore at the same time so many were struggling to stay in business.

“It was kind of interesting to be doing something that neighborhoods needed. That was important to me growing up, that was important to my children, that was important to my wife growing up,” Kaplan said.

“And then somebody comes in and says, ‘We’re gonna over double your rent.”

Topline:

Frozen budget: Most of the city’s Bureau of Street Lighting budget comes from an assessment that people who own property illuminated by lights pay on their county property tax bill. The amount people pay depends on the kind of property they own and how much they benefit from lighting. A typical single-family home currently pays $53 annually, and in total, the assessments bring in about $45 million annually for the city to repair and maintain streetlights. Changing the amount the Bureau of Street Lighting gets from the assessment requires a vote among property owners who benefit from the lights.

Ballots: L.A. City Council’s vote gives city staff the green light to prepare and send out those ballots. Miguel Sangalang, who oversees the bureau, said at a committee meeting earlier this month that he expects to send out ballots by April 17. Notices about the ballots will be sent out prior to the ballots themselves.

Near unanimous vote: L.A. City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez was the only “No” vote Tuesday, saying she wanted to see a more current strategic plan for the bureau. Sangalang said the bureau developed a plan in 2022 that lays out how money will be spent. Councilmember Imelda Padilla was absent for the vote.

Vote count: Votes will be weighted according to the assessment amount. Basically, the more you’re asked to pay yearly to maintain streetlights, the more your vote will count. Ballots received before June 2 will be tabulated by the L.A. City Clerk.

How much more money: According to a report, the amount needed in assessments from property owners to meet the repair and maintenance needs of the city’s streetlighting in the next fiscal year is nearly $112 million.

Use of the money: Sangalang said at a March 11 committee meeting that the extra funds would be used to double the number of staff to handle repairs and procure solar streetlights, which don’t face the threat of copper wire theft. That would all potentially reduce the time it takes to repair simple fixes down to a week. Currently, city residents wait for months to see broken streetlights repaired. The assessment would come with a three-year auditing mechanism.