As seventeen separate wildfires have been ravaging Northern California this month, 10,000 firefighters have responded to contain the wind-driven blazes and prevent further loss of life and property. Southern California, too, is dealing with its own group of fires just east of downtown Los Angeles. The economic impact of the wildfires on California’s agriculture industry is going to be substantive, with Sonoma County’s farmers hit particularly hard. The value of the county’s agriculture is close to $900 million, with livestock and poultry accounting for $178 million and about $10 million from vegetable farms. At the heart of California’s farmland, ranchers and critical agricultural service businesses have been devastated as the Wine County fires moved into their lands, forcing farmers to attempt to move the 30,000 dairy cows and 35,000 sheep and goats that are housed in Soinoma county alone.
Read more: The Wine Country fires are hitting the heart of Sonoma County farm and dairy land
With more than 210,000 acres and 5,700 structures destroyed, more than 90,000 people have been evacuated, many of which have been injured or lost their homes. In this time of tragedy, it is important to know how you can be of help and service. Below is a list of services, shelters, and donations centers which are offering relief for those affected.
- How to Help Animals Affected by Northern California Wildfires
- California Fire Foundation is where you can help support the firefighters giving so much to combat the blazes.
- Donate to the Red Cross. Choose between giving directly to the organization’s fires fund or to your local Red Cross.
- AirBnB’s Open Homes program allows you to easily house those in need.
- Facebook has created exclusive Crisis Response Centers for the Sulphur Fire, the Tubbs Fire and the Atlas Fire. Use this platform to indicate that you are willing and able to volunteer.
- Ag Community Relief is collecting donations to replace and donate wire-fencing to farmers and ranchers which has been lost in the fires.
- 1-800-FARMAID for farmers and ranchers affected by the fires.
- A local guide of current needs has been put together for the San Francisco Bay Area for those who would like to volunteer or donate goods.
While we are a Korea-based company, some of our staff have family and friends in the region, and of course, we have valuable partners and customers in the agriculture sector who have been affected. From all of us at BLH Aqua Technology, we wish everyone in California good health, safety, and recovery, and commend the firefighters and volunteers for their service.