Like all of America, we are watching in horror as fires consume parts of Los Angeles. 

This disaster hits close to home for us—WomenCount is headquartered in the Bay Area, and our local staff are very familiar with the increasing danger many parts of California face from climate change-fueled wildfires. 

Also distressingly, something spreading as fast as the flames right now is misinformation. We are compelled to step in for our neighbors to the south to make sure our members know exactly what is going on, and how you can help.

• Regarding the worst lies: LA’s fire hydrants, while straining under the current situation, are not out of water; FEMA, though it has recently responded to many disasters, has money to help LA; and the devastation, far from “picking sides”, has leveled wealthy, White communities and historic, middle-class Black communities alike.
  
• The local government response headed by Mayor Karen Bass, who we supported in her 2021 race, has also been criticized, but the claim that she cut the LA Fire Department budget is false. She has actually presided over a $50 million year-over-year increase.
  
• Another local female leader being targeted with misinformation is LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, who is the first woman and first LGBTQ person to hold that position. She has been called a DEI hire and worse, all as Kristin and her team risk their lives to save others.

These are lies drummed up by the reactionary, right-wing media ecosystem to sow distrust and discord, to keep us from coming together and supporting our fellow Americans when disaster strikes—support we are going to need more and more as climate change worsens hurricanes in the Southeast, tornados and flooding in the Midwest, heat waves across the country, and yes, fires in California and other Western states. 

Please consider helping the people of LA during this horrific time by giving generously to one or more of the organizations below.

• The YMCA of Greater Los Angeles is collecting supplies and offering emergency shelter services.
  
• The Mutual Aid Los Angeles Network is coordinating person-to-person, community-based financial and material support.
  
• The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation helps make sure firefighters have enough supplies.
  
• The California Fire Foundation provides relief to the families of firefighters and long-term financial resources for rebuilding communities.
  
• Watch Duty is a nonprofit app that provides real-time fire, evacuation and shelter data.