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On Sunday, October 21, devastating wildfires spread across southern California, burning 516,356 acres, destroying 2,013 homes, killing seven individuals, and injuring close to 100 people. The fires forced more than 500,000 people to leave their homes, resulting in the largest evacuation in the history of the state of California.

Islamic Relief immediately responded to the disaster by dispatching staff to the affected areas in San Diego to assess the fire damage and decide what aid was most needed. Meanwhile, supporters were encouraged to donate towards the Natural Disaster Fund to help the victims.

Islamic Relief ’s initial relief efforts included covering housing and food costs for the evacuees in San Diego and assembling 1000 Hygiene Care Packages containing critical daily necessities. Islamic Relief also redirected several hygiene packages from their Hurricane Katrina efforts in Louisiana for distribution to the fire victims.

While assessing the fire damage, Islamic Relief took notice of the many affected Native Reservations in San Diego. Sixty-four homes burned at the Rincón Nation of Luiseño Native Reservation, where tribes had to fight their own fires. Islamic Relief workers toured the area, where many businesses and homes burned, and spoke with tribal members and tribal elders.

Islamic Relief donated 250 cleaning kits and face masks to the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians Department of Tribal Housing and the San Pasqual Indian Reservation Fire Station. The Nestle Company donated 5,760 water bottles to Islamic Relief, which Islamic Relief delivered to the Indian Reservations.

For several days, the firefighters of Southern California worked arduous 24 hour shifts in an effort to stop the flames that were enveloping a significant portion of the Southland. Many did not sleep for days and put their lives in danger as the fires showed no sign of relenting. In an effort to show gratitude for their hours of intense labor, Islamic Relief handed out 800 signed thank you cards to the fire fighters. The cards were signed by students at New Horizon School Pasadena, New Horizon School Irvine and Orange Crescent School. The cards were distributed to several fire departments in the fire-affected regions of Southern California. Our gratitude goes out to the schools that participated in the signing of the cards.

In a return gesture of the gratitude shown by the schools, the Orange County Fire Authority sent each school a thank you card of their own, with junior firefighter caps and small fire trucks. Islamic Relief also received a note of thank you from their Division Chief, Ed Flemming, in which he emphasized their appreciation for the cards and for helping to keep the safety of our communities at the forefront.

Islamic Relief’s domestic projects have increased tremendously over the years. In addition to responding to emergencies such as Hurricane Katrina – where more than $3.2 million in aid has helped over 60,000 people - Islamic Relief is continuously involved in assisting needy individuals and families within the U.S. and working with community organizations to improve people’s livelihoods.
 
What They Say About Islamic Relief

"Islamic Relief, or other organizations that derive out of religious institutions…have been critical to our recovery (after Hurricane Katrina)."
-Haley Barbour, Governor, State of Mississippi
 
"(Islamic Relief) is vital to the strength of the Gulf Coast communities you serve and essential to making them whole once more (after Hurricane Katrina)."
-Edward Kennedy, U.S. Senator, State of Massachusetts
 
"I am particularly pleased that a public-private partnership – that of Islamic Relief USA and the US Government – and with the valuable assistance of the World Health Organization -- has been able to provide much needed medicines for use by the Ministry of Health throughout Burkina Faso to fight a variety of diseases."
-Jeanine Jackson, US Ambassador to Burkina Faso