On January 7, 2025, hurricane-force winds ignited several major wildfires in Southern California that have caused massive destruction, disrupted power, prompted road and highway closures and forced tens of thousands from their homes. With both fires at 0% containment, resources are stretched extremely thin across the county.
The Palisades Fire erupted Tuesday afternoon and has spread rapidly along the coastal neighborhood, burning thousands of acres – including homes, schools, and other structures. The fire continues to rage uncontrolled, threatening several communities in the Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles city, and Malibu.
The Eaton Fire ignited just hours later in the Eaton Canyon area, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate the communities of Altadena and Pasadena. Homes and businesses burned overnight, many residents have lost power, and the shifting winds continue to thwart containment efforts. Like its counterpart on the coast, the Eaton Fire remains a serious threat to Eastern Los Angeles.
CORE is deploying an emergency response team to support those near the fires, where air quality is a major concern. With our headquarters in Los Angeles, CORE actively serves residents living in many of the impacted areas through our climate resilience and public health programs. As smoke continues to engulf the county, we are prepared to distribute masks, go-kits, hygiene kits, and other protective and educational resources to ensure their health and safety both now and in preparation for future emergencies.
CORE has previously supported communities throughout the state impacted by severe wildfires, including the McKinney Fire in 2022 and Bridge Fire in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties in 2024. In close coordination with government agencies and partners, we supplied emergency go-bags, masks, and other protective equipment while connecting impacted community members with vital information about evacuations and shelter support. Our response to the McKinney Fire laid the groundwork for the current wildfire mitigation program in Siskiyou County, which is focused on creating defensible spaces for at-risk homes in the area. In Southern California, CORE’s local climate team has engaged tens of thousands of community members across Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties, hosting educational events and emergency alert sign-ups, distributing go-bags and guides, and clearing fire-hazardous materials in the Angeles National Forest.
CORE became known as a trusted source of information and service delivery in Los Angeles during the COVID-19 pandemic – and we’ve continued to build relationships with community members, government agencies, and local partners to activate disaster responses and climate resilience programs in California. As we face these inevitable and increasingly severe climate disasters, CORE continues to utilize these trusted partnerships and our experience on the frontlines to build more prepared and more resilient communities.
Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) is an organization that focuses on saving lives and strengthening communities affected by or vulnerable to crisis. They provide pandemic response services such as testing, contact tracing, and resource coordination. They also engage in construction programs to rebuild and reinforce neighborhoods post-disaster. Additionally, they offer disaster response and preparedness initiatives both domestically and internationally, providing support and aid in various crisis situations.
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