L.A. Wildfires: Bruins Helping Bruins

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he January wildfires across Los Angeles County were the most destructive in California history, leaving behind immeasurable damage, displacement and a citywide sense of loss. The Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods have been devastated and the entire city is shaken, either by personal loss or by the scale of destruction and its impact on friends, family and coworkers. The fires have upended the lives of many in the Bruin community, and Bruins have responded with an outpouring of support. 

After nearly a month of intense firefighting efforts, all the fires are 100% contained, but the damage is staggering. The Palisades Fire burned 23,707 acres, destroying 6,833 structures. The Eaton Fire burned 14,021 acres, and destroyed 9,418 structures. In all, 29 lives were lost and estimates show that 150,000 people were displaced. Thousands of families have lost their homes or cannot return to them until their neighborhoods are safe again. Artists lost their studios, small business owners lost their shops, housekeepers, gardeners and teachers lost their places of employment.  As wildfires broke out across the city on Jan. 7, UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk had just started his first full week in his new role. He quickly shifted his focus to leading UCLA’s response. While the UCLA campus was never in immediate danger, the University closely monitored the situation. Students, faculty and staff who lived nearby had to evacuate, and many learned their homes had been lost in the fire. The Bruin community immediately began organizing ways to help. Chancellor Frenk encouraged Bruins to “look out for one another and mobilize our reservoirs of kindness.”

IMMEDIATE NEEDS

As the winds shifted and the fire began to move towards campus, the Academic Senate made a decision to move classes online for a week out of an abundance of caution. To keep in touch with the Bruin community, Frenk began sharing personal video messages updating the community on UCLA’s efforts to keep health care facilities open and running, limit water use on campus and provide access to temporary housing, meals and support.

Chancellor Frenk announced a series of virtual Town Halls for staff, students, alumni and parents to answer questions from the community and provide updates on resources. UCLA also established a campus updates and resources page with up-to-date information.  

Across campus, student groups, campus departments and other units jumped into action to support the community’s most pressing needs. The UCLA College Corps, a group of students who perform climate-related community service partnered with the UCLA Volunteer Center to mobilize the purchase of comfort and care items from an Amazon wish list, which were combined with donations from businesses. They distributed more than 500 care packages to UCLA community members affected by the fires.

UCLA ALUMNI

Bruins are finding ways to support each other and give back. Within the UCLA community, it is estimated that the fires affected more than 22,000 alumni. Alumni Affairs is working with various alumni networks to assess the needs of impacted Bruins, sharing resources and making plans to help in their long-term recovery. A large list was compiled of resources for affected Bruins, ranging from pet/animal care to temporary housing assistance to programs for small businesses. 

Alumni who are searching for ways to help can directly assist displaced Bruins via GoFundMe, or volunteer their services through this interest form. Julie Sina, associate vice chancellor of Alumni Affairs, has said, “Your alumni community, 670,000 Bruins, are here to support you and lift you, through what we know will not only be today, but as time moves forward, through the recovery. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.” 

DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER

In his message to the UCLA community on Jan. 14, Chancellor Frenk shared that the University would open space at its UCLA Research Park property, formerly the Westside Pavilion mall, for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to use as a Disaster Recovery Center. FEMA partnered with the City of Los Angeles and other federal, state and local government agencies and nonprofits to provide much needed services. Since then, the Center has served nearly 17,000 people with applying for disaster relief loans and replacing lost or destroyed birth certificates, passports and driver’s licenses. The UCLA Foundation and Alumni teams have organized a table staffed by UCLA and our alumni volunteers every day since the opening of the center.  Nearly 2,500 Bruins have signed up to lend a helping hand. Volunteers are connecting alumni with resources, answering questions and sharing information about University job openings. UCLA graduates and graduates of any UC can request a replacement diploma free of charge. Kristine Werlinich, executive director of The UCLA Foundation says, “Volunteers have taken away that it’s good to be able to show up for people as a friendly face and an ear to listen, just being there for them when they're going through a tough time.”

The UCLA Alumni Association is collecting new or gently used Bruin apparel to share with Bruins who have lost theirs in the fires. Whether it’s a hoodie, a T-shirt or anything with Bruin flair, donations can be dropped off at the James West Alumni Center on campus. A pop up will be hosted in the spring by the Alumni Association to distribute the gear. 

COMMUNITY

Bruins are using their skills in any way they can to help others. Alan Barasorda ʼ93 is the director of finance and human resources for the Pasadena Senior Center. He is also a longtime member and current president of the Rose Bowl Bruins. Basorda’s UCLA story begins in 1990 when he attended his New Bruin Orientation. He remembers someone asking the gathered students if they felt special, having received an acceptance to their dream school. They followed the question with a suggestion, “I want you to remember this feeling so that after you graduate you can show your gratitude by giving back to the community.” Basorda took that message to heart, and it has inspired him throughout his life.

The Pasadena Senior Center is a nonprofit working to improve the lives of low income and food insecure older adults. During the fire, the Center needed to close briefly, so they brought their supplies to share with the nearby Red Cross Center. In the meantime, the Center collected donations and when they reopened on Jan. 10, they were restocked and eager to provide much needed meals and services. The Altadena Senior Center burned in the fire, so the Pasadena Center extended a welcome to their seniors as well. 

Barasorda has brought UCLA to the Senior Center, hosting Rose Bowl Bruin events and volunteer opportunities. He encourages others to volunteer at the Center, or find other ways to get involved. He says, “It’s about giving back, because that’s what we Bruins do.”

Among the heroes of the community were the firefighters and first responders. Nearly two dozen Los Angeles Fire Department battalion chiefs are UCLA Extension alums. Battalion chiefs coordinate resources and people, a job that requires excellent project management skills. The firefighters earned certified associate project manager certificates through the project management professional exam preparation course within UCLA Extension in 2019. 

CAMPUS ORGANIZATIONS 

Many Bruins need help coping with the aftermath of the fires, and UCLA has responded by mobilizing campus organizations and centers. The UCLA Homeless Healthcare Collaborative provided medical care to people who were displaced by the fires and dentistry students and others have mobilized to supply fire-impacted residents with essential relief items. The UCLA Community Programs Office worked with partners including Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center, UCLA Residential Life and the local nonprofit Food Forward to hold regular food distribution events for students, faculty, staff and alumni. Student volunteers stepped up to help feed hundreds of Bruins and their families at events across UCLA. 

UCLA also provided counseling for students. The Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) staff were made available to support mental health needs and have a 24-hour a day hotline. The UCLA RISE Center also provided support for mental and emotional wellbeing, and held specialized drop-in support and programming for those impacted by fires. 

UCLA EXPERTS

As the focus shifts from immediate support for fire survivors to rebuilding and recovery, UCLA experts are helping guide policymakers and communities to address immediate and long-term challenges, including water supply, air quality, recovery planning, and the governance and politics of disaster response.  

Gregory Pierce, one of the experts from the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation, consulted with community members and politicians on increasing safety and trust in drinking water systems impacted by wildfires. He said, “We need to coordinate ASAP on testing, treatment and public communication and involve nonprofit organizations that are trusted in their communities. Otherwise, residents will be confused, concerned or worse regarding the safety of their water.”  

Rachel Connolly, an air quality and environmental equity researcher at UCLA, recommended N95 masks and air purifiers to protect from contaminated air. The Campus Air Quality Dashboard allows anyone to access the information from five air quality sensors across campus. UCLA provided N95 masks at the Ashe Center and from residence halls during and after the fires.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

As UCLA continues to expand the scope of its support for fire relief and recovery efforts, it has also established the Bruin Wildfire Relief Funds to assist students, faculty, staff and researchers who have been impacted by this tragedy. Rebuilding and recovery won’t be achieved in the coming weeks or months; it will take years and will require a large-scale mobilization. But if there’s one thing we can count on, it’s that Bruins are here to help.

Below is a list of UCLA opportunities. 

• Economic Crisis Fund - students in need 
• UCLA Employee Relief Fund – UCLA staff in need  
• UCLA Health Employee Relief Fund - assist those who work in patient care and David Geffen School of Medicine faculty and employees. 
• GoFundMe – UCLA alumni in need 
• Volunteer Interest Form – Offer your time, resources or expertise 
• UCLA Volunteer Center – Database of volunteer opportunities 

If you are impacted by the fires and are in need of support, please reach out to community@alumni.ucla.edu.    

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