Members of the UC Davis community are acting on several fronts to help those affected by the fast-growing fires in Los Angeles County.

The UC Davis Fire Department’s Brush Truck 34 left campus Tuesday (Jan. 7) as part of a Yolo County strike team and is currently assisting with the battle against the Eaton Fire. The Los Angeles County Fire Department said this morning that blaze had grown to 10,600 acres with zero containment.

Aboard Brush Truck 34 are Capt. Nate Potter, Engineer Erich Schultz, and Firefighters Chad Cunningham and Gerrit Dykzeul. Separately, Capt. Steve Dunn is leading a group of personnel from the Lake Tahoe area joining the fight against the Eaton Fire.

Campus personnel have been actively fighting structure fires, including a commercial structure and several other burning buildings overnight, Interim Fire Chief Nathaniel Hartinger said. 

“The end of the red flag warning tomorrow can’t come soon enough,” he said.

The Eaton Fire and others in Los Angeles County, including the Palisades, Hurst, Lidia and Sunset fires, have led to at least five deaths and destroyed more than 1,000 structures, according to Cal Fire. Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate.

“We know that many Aggies and their families are personally affected by these devastating fires, and we stand ready to offer whatever assistance we can,” said Chancellor Gary S. May.

How to help or get support

Those looking for ways to help students can donate to the Student Fire Relief Fund, established by the UC Davis Foundation Board in 2018 to help students impacted by any natural disaster. Donations to that fund can be made online.

Donations can also be made to the Staff Emergency Fund. That fund, while not fire-specific, provides assistance to staff members facing an unforeseen need.

Members of the campus community looking for in-person support are invited to an “Open Space for LA” event, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday at the Department of Chicana/o/x Studies office at 2102 Hart Hall.

“If you’re feeling the weight of the LA fires, we’re holding space for you,” the department said on social media. 

Program Coordinator Charrise Torres said the fires have impacted many in the department.

Outreach to other impacted Aggies is also underway. The Office of Student Support has begun reaching out directly to students who have an address of record in the impacted areas to offer support and resources.

Help is also available for employees: Tammy Kenber, chief human resources officer, said in an email that “these events call for our collective flexibility, care and empathy.”

Resources for employees

• Leaves of absence and flexibility: Managers are encouraged to offer flexible work arrangements, including remote work or leave accommodations, where appropriate, Kenber said. For guidance on individual cases, please consult Employee and Labor Relations.
• Emergency Assistance Programs: While contributions cannot be earmarked for fire relief, employees are encouraged to:
  • Contribute to the Staff Emergency Fund for colleagues who need assistance moving forward.
  • Donate vacation leave through the Catastrophic Leave Program, which allows employees to support colleagues in need by donating vacation leave or paid time off to support a specific colleague who has exhausted their paid leave due to a catastrophic illness or event.
• Mental health support: The Academic and Staff Assistance Program (ASAP) offers confidential, no-cost support for employees and their immediate families.

Resources for students

• Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center provides crisis resources, such as emergency shelter, immediate food and financial hardship support, as well as longer-term basic needs support.  
• The Aggie Mental Health website provides information to access urgent help, counseling resources, CAN Counseling and group support. 
• Student Support Case Managers help coordinate support efforts across campus and community systems to assist students facing crises, life traumas and other barriers that impede success. 
• Financial Aid Economic Crisis Support Team assists students who are experiencing a financial crisis.  
• The Graduate Studies Emergency Grant Program provides support for graduate students experiencing unexpected challenges that impede their progress toward their degrees.