The Kincade Fire broke out on the night of Wednesday, October 23, 2019, in rural Sonoma County. Since then, the fire has forced thousands of people to evacuate in the county and Governor Newsom has declared a statewide emergency.

Particularly, the most vulnerable evacuees are Latino immigrants and farm workers who live and work in the impacted area. Over a hundred of them are taking shelter at the Healdsburg Community Center Shelter, where local nonprofits are providing them with essential services and support. Additionally, a Red Cross shelter has also been set up to house other evacuees.

How to Help

The following vetted wildfire relief and recovery funds serve to support those who have been most impacted by the fire:

  • Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP): CDP has launched the 2019 California Wildfires Recovery Fund.
  • Community Foundation of Sonoma County: The Community Foundation of Sonoma County’s ongoing Resilience Fund continues to accept donations to support the mid- and long-term recovery needs of individuals and families, with particular focus on helping the needs of individuals, healing the effects of long-term trauma, and addressing housing solutions within the county.
  • Global Giving: The Disaster Recovery Network at GlobalGiving has launched a Northern California Wildfire Relief Fund.
  • Latino Community Foundation: The Latino Community Foundation’s NorCal Wildfire Relief Fund has been activated. The fund supports nonprofits that include Corazon Healdsburg and Nuestra Comunidad, which are providing essential sheltering and supportive services to Latino immigrants and farm workers impacted by the fire
Resources for You and Your Organization
  • The State of California’s Guide to Disaster Assistance Services for Immigrant Californians provides information on health, housing, emergency supplies, employment and other services available to all Californians, regardless of their immigration status.
  • For funders who want to learn more about how they can best support immigrant communities in a disaster, please listen to the webinar “Funding for Immigrant Communities Post-Disaster" hosted by the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR).
  • The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services connects residents with a wide range of services and programs targeted specifically at those who have been affected by wildfires.

Read the full article about how to help victims of the Kincaid fires at Northern California Grantmakers.