Across the western U.S., a wave of summer wildfires has prompted emergency evacuations, blanketed cities in dangerous smoke and left devastation in their wake. Searing heat, high winds and dry weather have complicated containment efforts, and the scale and scope of these disasters threaten the health of many vulnerable communities.
Park Fire
Though only 12 percent contained, the Park Fire is already the largest wildfire in California history, burning 368,000 acres and forcing the evacuation of nearly 8,000 people and destroying more than 100 buildings.
Those evacuees include residents of Paradise and the surrounding area, which was devastated by the Camp Fire in 2018. Direct Relief has worked extensively to improve health care access and power resiliency in the area, from providing requested medicines and supplies, to funding health care providers focused on on-the-ground care, to equipping medical centers with backup power in case of outages.
A red flag warning, the highest level of fire danger alert, was issued for much of central California.
Widespread threats
Eleven other wildfires have burned thousands of acres in the state, and hundreds of thousands of acres have been burned this year.
The Darkee Fire in Oregon, which has grown to more than 288,000 acres, is 49% contained, according to recent reports.
Large wildfires have far-reaching health and socio-economic impacts, from poor air quality and water pollution to loss of homes, jobs and healthcare. Affected communities face immediate risks associated with increased respiratory and cardiovascular problems, mental health concerns, unmanaged chronic diseases and heat stroke. Impacts on health and its social determinants can last for years or even forever.
Direct Relief Support
During recent wildfires, Direct Relief has provided critical support to CalOES, county public health departments, search and rescue teams, and local health centers and clinics near the fire scenes, including the Park Fire in Butte County. The organization maintains an inventory of N95 masks and other essential medications and supplies that are often requested after wildfires.
Additionally, the organization is partnering with federal, state and local health center and free clinic associations to ensure a comprehensive response. Its efforts include delivering essential medical supplies and resources to help those affected by the fires, as well as providing dedicated crisis mitigation and support to those affected.
Butte County Search and Rescue also requested medical inventory from Direct Relief to assist in the care of evacuees in local shelters, and for information analysis and mapping assistance to direct emergency operations.
Direct Relief is committed to reducing the health impacts of wildfires and other disasters, from providing essential medical supplies to supporting long-term recovery and resilience efforts. The organization continues to work closely with partners to protect and improve the health of communities affected by these disasters.
