The Getty Fire in Los Angeles, California, continues to rage. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the fire is about 15% contained. As of Wednesday morning, it’s burned through over 650 acres of land. If that sounds bad, that’s because it is. So bad that the National Weather Service has now given the area an “extreme red flag” warning, which is an unprecedented label. One glimmer of goodness that has people on social media smiling? NBA star Lebron James, who himself was displaced from his LA home, sent a taco truck to feed firefighters and first responders.
Here’s Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti thanking James.
And here’s James talking about the evacuation with his family.
While what James did is absolutely inspiring and caring, it’s worth noting that if an evacuation is stressful for someone who has wealth and status at their disposal, it’s likely to be that much harder for someone who doesn’t. Brentwood is one of the wealthiest parts of Los Angeles, but as people (attempt) to evacuate around the state, it’s important to remember that the cost of gas (assuming someone has a car), hotel rooms, and pet relocation can all be barriers. For people who live with disabilities, evacuations can also be a special kind of nightmare.
Relatedly, some gardeners and house cleaners have gone all the way to the wealthy neighborhood to work even with evacuations underway. Why? Their employers apparently didn’t tell them not to come in, so they dutifully went anyway. Also: They needed the money.
In the top half of The Golden State, firefighters have been gifted meals thanks to chef José Andrés. Andrés is no stranger to providing food to people in need; as we’ve reported previously at Daily Kos, the founder of non-profit World Central Kitchen has given food to survivors of Hurricane Dorian, Hurricane Maria, and people at the southern border, for example. In Northern California, World Central Kitchen has been giving both first responders and evacuees hot meals.
As reported by Eater San Francisco, a number of Bay Area chefs prepared food with World Central Kitchen for evacuees and first responders at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. These chefs included Traci Des Jardins, Chris Cosentino, Tyler Florence, and Guy Fieri. This also isn’t the first time these chefs have mobilized in light of California fires.
The Kincade Fire in Northern California is also only about 15% contained. It’s grown to 76,138 acres.