Wisconsin volunteers travel to California and provide aid to those impacted by wildfires
CALIFORNIA (CBS 58) -- Typically, volunteers from the Red Cross arrive right after a natural disaster, like a hurricane. They're there to help victims literally pick up the pieces of what's left behind. This is a more unique situation as the California fire threat is ongoing.
As of Friday morning, firefighters had a handle on only one of the seven latest California wildfires. The Lidia fire was nearly 75% contained. The massive Palisades fire was at just 8% and the Eaton fire where five people died was only at 3% contained.
The state of California has requested resources from as far away as Canada, and firefighters from around the U.S. are now sending crews to help out.
Volunteers are also pouring into the state, including five from Wisconsin. A few arrived Thursday night and the rest on Friday, and more could be needed in the weeks to come.
"A lot of times people just need somebody to talk to. So, I mean it could just be sitting with and talking and comforting somebody. You could be handing out water, handing out food, you know setting up cots, handing out blankets, that kind of thing," said Jennifer Warren, regional communications director, American Red Cross of Wisconsin.
If you're reading this and thinking you'd like to be boots on the ground for California, click here.
"And they would have to go online and fill out some paperwork. We put them through some trainings, we wouldn't just send them out there you know tomorrow. So, they'd have to go through some trainings to make sure that they're ready to do something like this," said Warren.
Not up for volunteering, but still want to be a help? You can donate $10 to the Red Cross Relief Fund by texting the number 90999.
Here is a list of places accepting funds for those impacted by the fires:
GoFundMe Wildfire Relief Fund 2025
LA County Wildfires- Global Empowerment mission
California Fire Foundation Donations
Watch Duty- Wildfire Maps & Alerts
Wildlife Recovery Fund- California Community Foundation