Between January 7 and 19, 2025, Southern California suffered a series of 31 wildfires driven by 40 to 90 mile an hour Santa Ana winds and burned over 40,000 acres. Six fires broke out in heavily populated areas, resulting in 200,000 evacuees, 27 confirmed deaths, and 17,000 structures damaged or destroyed. Countless vehicles have also been destroyed, some when people had to abandon them to flee on foot because of backed-up traffic. The worst devastation occurred during two of the largest fires. At the time of writing, the Eaton fire encompassing Altadena and Pasadena is 81% contained and has burned 14,117 acres, destroying 10,428 structures, with 17 fatalities. The Palisades Fire encompassing Pacific Palisades northwest of Santa Monica is 56% contained and has consumed 6,573 structures with 10 causalities. Various Sikh Seva Organizations have responded with an outpouring of food and other vital necessities.
Duwara Consciousness Foundation 501 (c)(3) non-profit
Sikhnet spoke with Davinder Singh of Duwara Consciousness Foundation (DCF) on January 15, 2025, and asked about plans for the shower trailer equipped with six showers and two washer-dryer units.
Sikhnet: Can you give a location and date for where the shower trailer will be parked in the Fire zone? Are you collaborating with Dr. Bronner’s folks at the new site? Have you heard of any Sikh families or Gurdwaras affected?
DCF – “We have not locked down the site yet. We are looking to bring the trailer back to San Diego as it needs a lot of maintenance since it spent so much time in freezing conditions in NC. We're working with the sheriff's dept to find a location. We have had confirmation that Bronner’s will be supplying soap for us. I haven't heard from or about Sikh families but I became the CEO of 3HO on 1st Jan this year. 3HO is in collaboration with DCF since the board has given me the clear to do this. SDI (Sikh Dharma International) has also jumped in and I am working with Kirtan Singh to see if any Sikh community members can help with a landing pad.”
The Shower Trailer has returned to San Diego where it is being cleaned and refurbished. Water lines and pumps damaged by the freezing conditions in North Carolina need repairing by professionals. Folding steps leading to the showers have also been destroyed and need replacing. Repairs are waiting on donations to fund the project. When repairs are complete, the shower trailer will be moved to LA.
Donate on the DCF Website
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Khalsa Aid USA in California
Khalsa Aid partnered with Gurdwara Guru Kalgidhar Sahib, Selma to purchase and package food destined for distribution in the LA Fire Zone. Khalsa Aid networked with local organizations such as Sikhs for Humanity and others to assess needs, and also provided “feminine hygiene products and over-the-counter medical products, and deployed a team of volunteers residing in LA to distribute water, food, and care for victims of the fires, as well as first responders to the disaster.” More than 500 hot meals prepared, with 600, bottles of water and 200 blankets and pillows have been distributed.
Khalsa AID International LA Wildfire Relief
Khalsa Aid USA on Facebook
United Sikhs USA in California
United Sikhs collaborated with multiple gurdwaras in the Los Angeles area to provide food and necessities Together they distributed essential supplies like “hot meals, clean drinking water, hot tea, fruits, hygiene kits, warm blankets”, and more to those in need.
United Sikhs LA Wildfire Relief
Helpline 1+ (800) 878-6333
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United Sikhs In LA Videos
- Sikhs for Humanity [a California Registered under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501 (c) (3) is a non-profit Humanitarian organization]
Sikhnet spoke with Harry Dhillon the director and founder of Sikhs for Humanity Sunday Evening January 19, 2025, and asked about the seva being done in the LA Fires zone.
Sikhnet: Is Sikhs for Humanity affiliated with United Sikhs, or any gurdwara? How can people donate and get involved?
Sikhs for Humanity – “Sikhs for Humanity and United Sikhs are different organizations. We are all Sikhs working together to do seva for victims of the LA Fire. Sikhs for Humanity is not affiliated with any particular Gurdwara. We chose to serve the evacuees of the Eaton fire as most are from middle-income family homes. We collaborated with United Sikhs and the Sikh Community Gurdwara, Covina as it is the closest gurdwara to the Eaton Fire. On January 15, 2025, we provided over 1,500 hot meals at the YMCA and Santa Anita Racetrack grounds and distributed 12,000 hot meals on January 18, 2025. We give volunteers time to rest between projects as this is just the beginning and will be ongoing. We make calls every evening to plan for the next day. We do not fundraise, there is plenty of money, food, and clothing for victims. We supply essentials like diapers [and other sanitary needs]. Plenty of resources are available for people whose homes have been burned. FEMA gives them vouchers for hotels, credit cards, food, etc. Those most in need are evacuees. They are sent to shelters. Food is available, but not much else. We collaborate with other organizations such as LA Works and CalFire. We have experience and know what people need. We were at the CAMP Fire and the Santa Rosa fire. We can anticipate and network to get people’s needs met. Sadly CALFIRE on Facebook has issued a new critical weather alert beginning Monday at 10 a.m. Strong winds and low humidities are expected to increase the risk of fire danger.”
Follow Sikhs for Humanity USA on Facebook
Seva is at the Heart of a Sikh
Countless organizations come together in times of disaster in a humanitarian outpouring for fellow human beings in need. There seems, however, to be a unique spirit that thrives in the hearts of Sikhs. Today, January 19, 2025, Gurdwara Kalgidhar in Selma, California hosted a 300,000-pound food giveaway to residents of their local community, just because giving back to their community is something they want to do. Ravi Singh of Khalsa Aid International, a resident of the UK, attended. When asked if they needed donations, they replied, that they “did not need money, but would welcome volunteers”.
