Los Angeles Wildfires Disaster Relief
February 16 and 23:
Completing Emergency
Relief and Looking Ahead
Written By Ida Eva Zielinska
Published #76 | Spring 2025 Issue
The San Gabriel Valley Service Center is in full disaster relief mode on February 16, 2025. Los Angeles wildfire survivors come to receive cash cards, collect essential supplies, and even leave a prayer on the “Prayer Wall.” Photo/Chihuan Hsia
SHARE
On February 16, both the West Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Service Centers held their eighth large-scale disaster relief distributions addressing the immediate needs of Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire survivors. While these events marked the completion of the first phase of Tzu Chi USA’s emergency assistance, those who had registered but could not attend previous distributions were later served on February 23.
During the week between those distributions, there was cause for celebration in Los Angeles County. On February 20, CalFire reported that, 44 days after igniting, both wildfires were 100% contained. Nonetheless, the destruction they left behind was immense.
The Palisades Fire, which primarily affected the Pacific Palisades and Malibu neighborhoods of Los Angeles, burned 23,707 acres. It not only destroyed 6,835 structures, including residential, commercial, and other buildings, but also damaged 973 structures in these areas. The Eaton Fire, primarily impacting the Altadena community, burned fewer acres – 14,021 – but caused an even more significant toll of damages on structures, destroying 9,413 and impacting 1,074 others.
For those affected, statistics feel almost meaningless as they struggle to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of these catastrophic wildfires, which upended their world and will require a lengthy recovery period.
“I’m still unraveling how these fires have impacted me. It’s not just me… it’s my children, it’s my community. It hasn’t even… begun to sink in,” said Kimberly Sandorf, a care recipient at the West Los Angeles Service Center on February 16.
Community volunteer Amy Huh, who served at that distribution, agreed. “This is a marathon, not a sprint. The recovery in our city is going to take a long time.”
Through his story, Nader Mohebkhosravi, who attended the extra distribution at the West Los Angeles Service Center on February 23, revealed the absolute despair many might feel after such a wildfire catastrophe. He had lived in his Pacific Palisades home – now burned to the ground – since 1976. Unable to cope, he was hospitalized for a mental breakdown.
“I don’t know what the future will be for me and my family. Where are we going to go? What are we going to do?” Mohebkhosravi exclaimed.
When you lose everything, when something like this happens, it’s an accumulation of death, suicide, bankruptcy. This is bringing all this pain, and it’s a nightmare that is not ending.
Still, Mohebkhosravi found solace and inspiration at the distribution, especially after learning that Tzu Chi volunteer Flora Yeh, the West Los Angeles Service Center Director, had also lost her home. What struck him most, as he observed her, was the remarkably positive attitude she exuded despite her loss. “She gave me hope that there is a new light after this darkness,” he admitted.
Reflecting on the Tzu Chi volunteers he met, Mohebkhosravi said with emotion, “It makes you cry because you don’t see this kind of humanity anywhere, especially in Los Angeles. Los Angeles has become such a materialistic city, where they value you by your car, by your house, by your looks, by what you wear…”
I'm so thankful from the bottom of my heart for these incredible humans. And I think that’s from the teachings of Master Cheng Yen, who has taught them to be so compassionate, so pure. I'm so grateful to you, Master Cheng Yen, and I pray to God I am able to see you one day, and thank you for being here for people like us – and it's not just me, it's thousands of people who have lost hope.
Looking ahead, James Chen, Director of the San Gabriel Valley Service Center, confirmed, “This is not the end; it is the beginning of another journey.” However, the goodwill of people in the United States and beyond is essential to making that mid- to long-term aid journey possible.
Quoting Master Cheng Yen, Stephen Denq, CEO of the Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, who served at several distributions in West Los Angeles, said, “One person can go fast, but it takes a group of people to travel far. I always tell the recipients that whatever they’re receiving today is not from one individual, but from everybody. It’s a collective love from people worldwide.”
For Tzu Chi USA, the accumulating love from people around the globe will fund the continuation of this long-term mission, as rebuilding will take at least five to seven years. Tzu Chi volunteers remain ever ready and determined, refusing to be discouraged by the time required to achieve full recovery. They gladly uphold Master Cheng Yen’s counsel:
No matter the length of the journey or the extent of our abilities, we should do our best to reach our goal. That is perseverance.
