Los Angeles is reeling from the most destructive wildfires in its history, and firefighters are struggling to contain the devastating blaze.

In 2019, the number of homeowners’ policies in California that were not renewed jumped by more than thirty per cent. In 2023, two giant insurers, State Farm and Allstate, announced that they would stop writing new policies for various forms of property insurance in California.

As a Los Angeles resident, I’ve personally seen dozens of peers opening their doors to those in evacuation zones, fostering displaced pets, rushing to donate necessities, and doing whatever they can to spread the word about urgent resources—from local evacuation shelters and restaurants offering free food to ways to stay safe from smoke inhalation —all while monitoring wildfire apps like Watch Duty and preparing for their own potential evacuations.