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California fires: Church meetinghouses safe; Latter-day Saints and neighbors still evacuated

Those wishing to help can use JustServe

As destructive wildfires burn in Southern California, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is continuing its efforts to provide relief to those affected.

Church meetinghouses in the area survived the fires, and the Church has offered the buildings for use as staging areas or shelter as needed and as a place of worship for all faiths, explained a news release on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

The update said that at least 48 homes of Church members have been lost and approximately 750 members remain evacuated, down from an estimated 1,000 in last Friday’s report. Last Friday’s report also explained that the Los Angeles California Temple is still operating and all missionaries are continuing their service.

Several fires have been burning for more than a week, burning over 62 square miles, killing at least 24 people and burning more than 12,300 structures, reported the Deseret News.

The Church’s emergency response team is working with multiple local organizations to assess immediate and long-term needs and provide resources.

Those wishing to help should understand that safety concerns caused by the fires make in-person volunteer opportunities limited at this time. However, Church members who wish to help are encouraged to donate to the Church’s humanitarian efforts or other reputable community organizations.

Several opportunities to help both remotely and locally will be listed on JustServe.org, a free website and app where organizations post service projects and volunteer needs.

The Church said that its Family Services counselors will also be sent to congregations in the affected areas to provide mental and emotional support.

There is hope that this week will bring a break in the strong Santa Ana winds fueling the fires.

In a statement on Jan. 9, Elder Mark A. Bragg, General Authority Seventy and president of the North America West Area said in part, “Our prayers are with those who have lost their homes and are displaced and for the first responders. We mourn with those who have experienced loss and ask for the Savior’s comforting Spirit to be with them. We also express gratitude for the acts of faith and work sustaining those affected by this crisis.”

A home burns in the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. | Nic Coury
A home stands above debris from the Palisades Fire in Malibu, California, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. | Mark J. Terrill
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