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News publications and other organizations are encouraged to reuse Direct Relief-published content for free under a Creative Commons License (Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International), given the republisher complies with the requirements identified below.

When republishing:

  • Include a byline with the reporter’s name and Direct Relief in the following format: "Author Name, Direct Relief." If attribution in that format is not possible, include the following language at the top of the story: "This story was originally published by Direct Relief."
  • If publishing online, please link to the original URL of the story.
  • Maintain any tagline at the bottom of the story.
  • With Direct Relief's permission, news publications can make changes such as localizing the content for a particular area, using a different headline, or shortening story text. To confirm edits are acceptable, please check with Direct Relief by clicking this link.
  • If new content is added to the original story — for example, a comment from a local official — a note with language to the effect of the following must be included: "Additional reporting by [reporter and organization]."
  • If republished stories are shared on social media, Direct Relief appreciates being tagged in the posts:
    • Twitter (@DirectRelief)
    • Facebook (@DirectRelief)
    • Instagram (@DirectRelief)

Republishing Images:

Unless stated otherwise, images shot by Direct Relief may be republished for non-commercial purposes with proper attribution, given the republisher complies with the requirements identified below.

  • Maintain correct caption information.
  • Credit the photographer and Direct Relief in the caption. For example: "First and Last Name / Direct Relief."
  • Do not digitally alter images.

Direct Relief often contracts with freelance photographers who usually, but not always, allow their work to be published by Direct Relief’s media partners. Contact Direct Relief for permission to use images in which Direct Relief is not credited in the caption by clicking here.

Other Requirements:

  • Do not state or imply that donations to any third-party organization support Direct Relief's work.
  • Republishers may not sell Direct Relief's content.
  • Direct Relief's work is prohibited from populating web pages designed to improve rankings on search engines or solely to gain revenue from network-based advertisements.
  • Advance permission is required to translate Direct Relief's stories into a language different from the original language of publication. To inquire, contact us here.
  • If Direct Relief requests a change to or removal of republished Direct Relief content from a site or on-air, the republisher must comply.

For any additional questions about republishing Direct Relief content, please email the team here.

California Fire Relief

Disaster Relief

Wildfires, In Brief

Direct Relief responds each year to wildfires throughout the Western U.S., and in its home state of California.

During fire responses, Direct Relief provides N-95 masks, medicine, and other resources to healthcare agencies and first responders in wildfire-affected communities across California.

Direct Relief maintains a standing inventory of items needed during wildfires, such as N-95 masks and respiratory medications.

California Fire Tracking

Direct Relief maps the real-time detection of new fires and tracks changes in the intensity and perimeter fire burn areas.

Active California Fire Tracker

The fire map below shows the boundaries surrounding an active fire, while the dashboard records how many acres have burned to date in California, as well as a tally of active fires burning in the state.

Which California Communities Are Most at Risk from Wildfire?

This map highlights the relative social vulnerabilities in these communities which impacts how well they may be able to respond and recover.

Health Effects of Fires

Wildfires can result in burns and other injuries sustained when trying to escape the flames, and can seriously exacerbate respiratory issues such as asthma as they generate a very harsh combination of smoke, dust, and other particulates.

In addition, many people suffering from chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and hypertension, are often forced to flee in haste and leave home without medications that are critical to managing serious medical conditions and preventing what can quickly turn into a medical crisis.

Furthermore, when temporary accommodations become overcrowded, the risk of contracting contagious illnesses rises. Norovirus, for example, is an easily spreadable gastrointestinal illness that can sicken people and discourage others not to use shelters – even if it means camping outdoors in extreme weather or living in vehicles. This very contagious virus became a problem when Camp Fire evacuees overwhelmed local accommodations.

Fire-Induced Power Blackouts

Direct Relief's delivers a generator and battery to the Free Clinic of Simi Valley. The unit provided the clinic with emergency backup power during the Saddleridge Fire in Oct., 2019.
Direct Relief delivers a generator and battery to the Free Clinic of Simi Valley. The unit provided the clinic with emergency backup power during the Saddleridge Fire in Oct., 2019.

California’s utility companies plan to continue intentional power shutdowns during periods of extreme fire danger while they address a maintenance backlog that could take a decade to resolve. Meanwhile, climate change is making California’s autumns hotter, drier and longer.

For a health center treating underserved patients on a shoestring margin, a power outage is serious. It means that patients go without visits or access to medication for days on end.

Nearly two in five health centers (39%) responding to a Direct Relief survey said they had lost power during the grid shut-offs, and 29% were forced to close during the outages

Losing access to power is expected to become a recurring challenge for health centers.

In response to power outages, Direct Relief provides a range of resilient power solutions, from backup power units and generators for shelters to large-scale solar and battery installation projects at health centers across the state.

California Fire Relief Efforts

CalFire crews move through active fire zones as the Hennessy Fire burns in Napa County on August 18, 2020. Residents across the state are enduring withering heat and dozens of fires simulatneously. (Photo by Ethan Swope)
CalFire crews move through active fire zones as the Hennessy Fire burns in Napa County on August 18, 2020. Residents across the state are enduring withering heat and dozens of fires simultaneously. (Photo by Ethan Swope)

As a California-based disaster relief and medical assistance organization, Direct Relief has responded to wildfires in California and throughout the U.S. for decades.

The organization is a longtime partner of the State of California through its Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) and always coordinates its response to wildfires with state officials.

Direct Relief also partners with the State of California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA) and serves as one of its key Business Operations Center (BOC) partners to optimize coordination during times of emergencies.

Direct Relief’s physical plant, equipment, trained staff, and various other capacities are registered with the State of California and available for public health or emergency purposes.

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