At least 16 people have died across the Los Angeles area in the wildfires. Officials have said the true death toll is not known as the fires continue to burn.

As a Los Angeles resident, I’ve personally seen dozens of peers opening their doors to those in evacuation zones, fostering displaced pets, rushing to donate necessities, and doing whatever they can to spread the word about urgent resources—from local evacuation shelters and restaurants offering free food to ways to stay safe from smoke inhalation —all while monitoring wildfire apps like Watch Duty and preparing for their own potential evacuations.