Written by Ida Eva Zielinska
The Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire, which ignited on January 7, 2025, in different areas of Los Angeles County, spread quickly through the fierce Santa Ana winds, leaving a trail of destruction and suffering. Tzu Chi USA National Headquarters Region volunteers in Southern California were ready to respond to the emergency right away and did.
At first, our volunteers visited shelters, then set up stations at Disaster Recovery Centers established by local authorities, where they registered wildfire survivors for aid. Then, on January 18, Tzu Chi USA’s West Los Angeles Service Center and San Gabriel Valley Service Center hosted the first of Tzu Chi’s cash card distributions in what will be a long-term disaster relief mission.
Tzu Chi USA’s disaster relief distribution at the West Los Angeles Service Center aimed to help those affected by the Palisades Fire that struck in the Los Angeles Pacific Palisades neighborhood, bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) incident report on the morning of January 18, the distribution day, stated that the wildfire had burned over 23,710 acres by then, destroyed over 3,850 structures, and damaged over 620. Moreover, the disaster was still unfolding as the blaze was only 43% contained and threatened another 12,280 structures.
However, for many who arrived at the distribution, staring off into space with facial expressions blank under the strain of trauma, shock, and fatigue, their worst fears had already come true.
Helping Those Impacted by the Palisades Fire
Most of them just lost their home, their lovely home. We try to help them as much as we can. To comfort them, to give them emotional support, give them financial support.
Among them, the care recipients represented different socio-economic backgrounds; some were more privileged, and others less so. Regardless, “We can take care of their urgent needs. I mean, when you lost everything, you lost everything,” said Stephen Huang, Executive Director of Tzu Chi Global Volunteers.
Each care recipient had their particular worries. Aasha T. had just moved to the Pacific Palisades with her 14-year-old son Levi, and they lost their home to the flames. She was distressed over the impact of the catastrophe on her son, sharing, “He had just started at the Pacific Palisades High School. So, it’s really sad. He was just starting to make some friends there.”
We are currently living out of a hotel. For me, it's a priority to get us set up as fast as I can.
Joseph Correia, a retired Los Angeles County firefighter, felt a sense of regret about his powerlessness as the fire approached his home. “I thought I could stay and protect my house. But the houses all around me started catching on fire, and I decided to leave,” he recounted, almost in disbelief.
We lost everything. Everything. Totally. It’s something I never even imagined would happen to us.
While Tzu Chi volunteers attended to the distribution of cash cards, offering an attentive ear as people shared their sorrowful stories, several community volunteers were also present, having come to help out. They undertook various assigned tasks, including organizing all the food, blankets, and other supplies available.
Community volunteer Cory Grabow came to help with his father and two young sons. “I try to teach the boys and my family that we’re fortunate to live this life as we do,” Grabow explained. Happy to assist at the distribution, his son Kay said, “Lots of people lost their homes and stuff in the fire. I just like helping out.”
We're just trying to make a difference and just be here to support.
For the Tzu Chi team, this attitude echoed an underlying hope in any Tzu Chi mission. “That’s also the main purpose, to spread great love,” said Huang. That great love is something Tzu Chi volunteers aim to cultivate and express by example. For her part, Tzu Chi volunteer Flora Yeh was resolute when she said, “I lost my home in the Palisades Fire, too. But I want to help other people. I’m here to help everybody.”
Yeh’s and other Tzu Chi volunteers’ altruistic spirit touched care recipients, extending those priceless ripples of love. Before Aasha T. left the service center, she remarked on the outpouring of care from Tzu Chi volunteers. “I think that’s the most important thing. There’s so kind. It makes me feel emotional because… just so many beautiful people helping… it’s so beautiful.”
Assisting Those Affected by the Eaton Fire
Concurrently with the West Los Angeles Service Center’s aid for Palisades Fire survivors, the San Gabriel Valley Service Center opened its doors to provide disaster relief for those affected by the Eaton Fire. That blaze ignited east of Pasadena and Altadena in the Eaton Canyon and, by January 18, had spread to engulf over 14,110 acres, destroying over 8,980 structures and threatening over 11,920 more.
James Chen, Director of the San Gabriel Valley Service Center, remarked, “It’s a lot of challenges locally because so many residents’ houses burned down. Today, we supplied debit cards, blankets, food, everything.” Many care recipients at the distribution were grateful for the assistance while understandably distraught.
“I work for the City of Pasadena, and more than 70 employees have lost their homes in Altadena. I was devastated; our house burned to the ground. I don’t really have any words to express the feelings I had, just devastation,” Chien Yu, Fire Engineer at the Pasadena Fire Department, declared. Other care recipients also shared their woes.
I don't know what I'm going to do yet. I want to go to my house… the ruins of it and say goodbye and start crying. I've been there 24 years. I'm going to miss it. I loved my house…
I needed to see with my own eyes that… that my house was gone and there’s nothing… just ashes like my house never was there. It’s not only me who lost my house. It’s my sons. It’s my grandkids. Like, we are all homeless now.
Ji Huan Hsia, another Tzu Chi USA National Headquarters volunteer, was also on-site. In charge of the Treasure Hut Program at the Headquarters campus in San Dimas, which collects clothes and other goods for donation to help those in need, Hsia was there with treasures that care recipients could select from and take. “Mainly today, we’re giving out down jackets. And we have underwear. We have shoes, hats, socks, gloves, a little bit of everything,” he reported.
Tzu Chi’s caring relief efforts, both thoughtful and practical, were truly appreciated, as care recipients revealed when they expressed their thanks to the volunteers.
Sometimes in this world, you think that nobody cares. And then strangers pour out their love through hugs, prayers, financial blessings… it’s overwhelming. Thank you so much for your love, your concern, your outreach.
You feel like they care about you, and they understand the situation we're going through. I can see in their faces how much they want to help. For people like me that we lost everything, it means so much.
