WGAW Wildfire Resources Dashboard Dashboard

(Updated Febuary 14, 2025)

Whether you are affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, or looking to help others in need, our union is a community and it comes together in times of crisis. 

See the information below for ways to access emergency resources or give what you can. 

SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED

DONATE

• Support your fellow members through the Writers Guild Member Fund.
  
  Making donations to the Writers Guild Member Fund through a donor-advised fund (“DAF”):
  • For DAF gifts, donors should instruct their financial institution to make the grant to the Entertainment Community Fund (“ECF”), which might be listed on their DAF portals as The Actors Fund of America (which is still the legal name of the ECF).
  • Some DAFs allow you to designate the gift in the memo of the DAF, and others do not. If your DAF allows you to enter text in a memo line, enter “Writers Guild Member Fund.”
  • In any case, donors should email Katherine Freedman to indicate the incoming DAF donation is for the Writers Guild Member Fund to ensure the gift is allocated to the correct fund.
  • The ECF Tax ID is 13-1635251; there is not a separate Tax ID for the Writers Guild Member Fund.
• Provide targeted items that members who have been affected by the fires have specified they need.
• Give to the Entertainment Community Fund and the Motion Picture & Television Fund as they provide assistance to those in the entertainment community affected by the wildfires.
• Contribute to individual writer fundraisers on Humanitas’s Los Angeles Fire Resource & Fundraisers List 

VOLUNTEER

• If you are interested in volunteering with your fellow WGA members in the coming weeks and months, please contact the Guild.
• In the meantime, the Mutual Aid LA Network has created an up-to-date list of volunteer opportunities.

ACCESS RESOURCES

Financial Assistance for WGA Members

• If you have lost your home or been displaced, contact the Guild.
• Writers Guild Member Fund grants. These grants are available due to the support of fellow Guild members who have donated to the Writers Guild Member Fund, which is administered by the Entertainment Community Fund. The grants are available to Current and Post-current members who were impacted by the wildfires. Grants of $7,500 are available to eligible members who lost their home or have been displaced for 15 days or more because of evacuation. Grants of $2,500 are available to eligible members who have been displaced between 2-14 days because of evacuation. Please contact the Guild to request your verification/eligibility letter to upload as part of your application.
• WGAW Good and Welfare Emergency Assistance Loans will be expedited in this time of crisis.
• Entertainment Industry workers can apply for need-based financial assistance from the Entertainment Community Fund and the Motion Picture & Television Fund. ECF's application asks for a list of documents to be uploaded. If a document is unavailable, upload a blank file to move the application forward.

WGAW Wildfire Resources Zoom

• In this presentation, Guild staff and representatives the Entertainment Community Fund offer information on navigating the recovery process. The presentation includes instructions on how to apply for grants through the Writers Guild Member Fund, for members who have lost their homes or been displaced by the Southern California wildfires.

WGA Member Support – Targeted Donation Drive

• If you have lost your housing, or have had to evacuate (either long-term or short-term) and you are looking for specific items—children’s clothes, wheelchair, laptop, phone chargers, kitchen supplies, etc., please fill out this short Member Support Survey. A team of volunteer captains and members will try to match donations to get these items. 

Medication Refills

• Guild members who have lost their medications and it's "too soon" to refill should contact the PWGA’s Eligibility Department by phone at (818) 846-1015 (press 1, then press 2) or by email. PWGA staff will handle the necessary overrides.

Member Work Space at the WGAW, 3rd & Fairfax

• The Member Lounge is available for members to work. Hours: Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Parking in the garage off Blackburn Ave. as available. Check with parking attendant.

FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL RESOURCES

Resources & Information

• California State Resources
• City of Los Angeles Recovery Resources
• Mutual Aid LA Network and its list of 150+ wildfire resources
• 211 LA Wildfire Information
• City of Los Angeles Fire Department 
• LA County Emergency Incident Response real-time updates 
• Watch Duty App
• CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) 
• SoCalEdison’s Power Outage Map 
• LA Department of Water & Power Outage Maps & Alerts 
• South Coast AQMD Air Quality Monitors and Forecasts 
• Debris blocking the road, call Bureau of Street Services at 311

Safety & Preparedness

• Listos California
• CalFire’s Evacuation Safety Guide
• CalFire’s ‘Go Bag’ Emergency Supply Checklist
• CA Fire Foundation Preparedness Guides
• American Red Cross Safety Guide
• CDC Wildfire Smoke Safety Guidelines
• LA Times: How to protect yourself from the smoke caused by L.A. wildfires

Other Financial Assistance

• CA Disaster Help Center’s list of state government social services available to victims of natural disasters
• CA Fire Foundation offers $250 gift cards to households that experienced more than 25% damage to their home/apartment. Contact the LA Fire Department by calling (213) 978-3800 to receive a gift card
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is now accepting applications for individual assistance from impacted Los Angeles County residents, apply here or by calling (800) 621-FEMA (3362)
• Anyone with a GoFundMe campaign related to the Los Angeles fires can apply for a GoFundMe grant.
• Navigating FEMA Session with the Entertainment Community, a workshop co-sponsored by industry unions, guilds, associations and nonprofit service providers, covers the application process, support for temporary housing or relocation, navigating denials and the appeal process, and understanding FEMA and common myths.

Shelter & Temporary Housing

It is against the law for hotels to increase rates more than 10% due to increased demand from fire evacuations. 

• American Red Cross’ list of open shelters and evacuation centers (zoom in on the map to LA County)
• Airbnb and LA 2-1-1 are offering free temporary housing
• Hotels offering discounted rates: Read here and here.
• Showers and Phone-Charging Stations: All Planet Fitness facilities in LA County are open for anyone impacted by the fires to use their facilities to rest, charge their phones, and/or shower.

Childcare

• YMCA is offering free childcare at 12 locations across the county for students K-8th grade.

Food Assistance

• Hollywood Food Coalition
• LA Regional Food Bank
• Local Food Pantries
• LA Times is updating a large list of restaurants offering shelter, discounts, and food to fire evacuees and first responders.

Mental Health

• SAMHSA Disaster Distress Crisis Counseling: call or text (800) 985-5990
• National Alliance on Mental Illness
• LA County Department of Mental Health
• Recovering Together—A Community Gathering is a weekly drop-in supportive community gathering, led by Entertainment Community Fund social workers, for California-based entertainment professionals impacted by the wildfires. 

Recovery After the Fires

• CalFire’s “After a Wildfire” Recovery Guide
• CalFire’s list of government and non-profit disaster recovery programs
• Statewide Recovery Resources
• The California Department of Insurance is providing support for impacted homeowners. Call (800) 927-4357.
• The California Department of Public Health can provide replacements of important documents like birth certificates.
• The California DMV can help replace lost or damaged driver's licenses in person at a DMV office or by calling (800) 777-0133 (DMV account is required).