Imagine that you were forced to suddenly evacuate your home, fearing for your life as you end up hundreds of miles away in a “safe zone.” You can only watch your neighborhood burning on the news, and can’t do anything to stop it. Expensive equipment, memories, homes, all lost to the fires, and family and friends separated and unable to reunite. This is the current situation for many residents of Los Angeles who have had to evacuate due to the wildfires of January 2025.

The devastating fires that have broken out across Los Angeles continue to rage this week. Images of decimated homes and orange flames lighting up the night sky continue to dominate newsfeeds. Though they are 2800 miles away, many JCHS students, staff, and faculty have been affected. Many more are looking for a way to help.  

The Caldron spoke to several JCHS staff and students about LA friends and family who have been directly impacted. One freshman explained that while her aunt and uncle in Southern California were too far north of the fires to be affected, they have to stay “ready at a moment’s notice to get away if need be.” Another freshman had close family friends who were directly in line of the fire and had to evacuate to Palm Springs, 100 miles south of Los Angeles. They have still not been back to their neighborhood and are not sure about the state of their home.

However, others were not as fortunate, and had friends that lost their homes due to the fires. And as AP US History and Freshman Honors Seminar teacher Mr. McLaughlin explained, “I have a few friends of friends who successfully evacuated – but lost their houses.  They were in shock when they returned to their old neighborhood.  Everything was gone.”

The Caldron also talked with World Cultures and AP Gov teacher Ms. Green, who has friends in LA. Fortunately, they have “remained safe and free from mandatory evacuations as the fire fighters were able to quell the threat to [their] neighborhood.” Ms. Green went on to tell us about her LA friend’s emergency disaster relief project, GoFundLA. It’s an Instagram account that spotlights “Los Angeles residents who need urgent support due to the fires,” including their own GoFundMes and stories. Amplifying the stories of these families can be a great way to support this community in need. 

Other ways students, staff, and faculty at JCHS can show support to the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires include the following: 

World Central Kitchen: Helping to directly provide meals to evacuated people in Southern California.

The American Red Cross: Set up evacuation shelters and provides food and emotional support, as well as recovery planning and financial assistance. 

The LA Fire Department Foundation: Directly supports firefighters with gear and resources to continue providing emergency services.