The California wildfires have been raging for over a month, causing devastation on an unprecedented scale. California has always been prone to wildfires due to its dry weather and intense heat, but these fires are among the largest in California’s history. According to Calmatters.org, California has had a total of 40,516 acres of land burned from the fires so far and 12,300 houses or buildings have been burnt down. Families have lost everything, leaving so many people uncertain about the future. People across the globe have expressed deep sympathy for those impacted, and the Ramapo community has stepped up to help.
The Interact Club, led by Mr. Basili, organized two different drives to support those in need. One drive focused on collecting essential items like shampoo, blankets, and bathroom supplies for displaced families, while the other aimed to help pets by gathering food and bedding. “It’s a tragedy when fires destroy people’s homes and lives. It’s scary and I have a lot of empathy for everyone affected,” says Mr. Basili. “It makes you want to do what you can to help. Two of the Interact Club’s officers found contacts that were looking for items, and we decided to contribute to both. One focused on essential items people need, such as shampoo and other care and hygiene products. The other is a drive for food and blankets for pets affected and separated from their families” He also shared that around 70 people have donated and the number is expected to reach nearly 100 by the end of the drive.
Students at Ramapo High School are also expressing their concern for victims of the wildfires. Freshman Gavin Fromberg shares, “It’s very tragic that people’s houses and possessions are burnt down and that they have to evacuate, and I hope that they are doing well and that the donations from the Ramapo students and staff help out.”
As of now, at least 25 people have lost their lives due to the fires, and about 150,000 residents in Los Angeles County remain under evacuation orders, with more than 700 individuals seeking shelter in nine facilities (Aljazeera.com). These people have been forced out of their homes and had to leave all their precious belongings in order to save their own lives. ABC News reported, “Over the last nine days, seven fires have broken out across the nation’s second-largest metropolitan region, ravaging a combined area bigger than the 40 square miles that comprise the city of San Francisco and nearly twice the size of Manhattan, New York. An eighth fire ignited Monday night near Oxnard in neighboring Ventura County, but fire crews held it to 61 acres.”
It is times like these where compassion, dedication, and public service make a difference, and we hope more members of our community and beyond will continue to step up to support those in need. As efforts to combat the fires continue, it’s clear that every contribution, big or small, brings hope to those who have lost so much.
