How LA’s wildfires are devastating creatives (and how you can help)

Los Angeles County is currently facing one of its worst wildfire disasters in history. Fuelled by hurricane-force Santa Ana winds and bone-dry conditions, a series of relentless wildfires has engulfed the area since 7 January, wreaking havoc on local communities. At time of writing, around 179,000 residents are under evacuation orders, and another 200,000 are under evacuation warnings, which means they may have to leave their homes soon.

While the media is largely focused on how all this affects movie stars, that’s only a tiny part of the story. These catastrophic fires have levelled entire neighbourhoods, including the homes, studios and livelihoods of countless creatives.

Freelance illustrator Jess Miller is among those who’ve lost both her home and studio to the Eaton fire in Altadena. She shared on Instagram: “I’m in total shock and completely numb and devastated […] It’s really hard to process that my entire community and the things I worked so hard for were taken away from me so quickly.”

Jess describes the experience as “truly heartbreaking”, revealing that her entire Altadena community, including banks, schools, gas stations, restaurants, and coffee shops, is gone. She said on Instagram that it is “so hard to wrap my head around the fact that this happened in less than 24 hours”. A friend has launched a GoFundMe page to support Jess and help her rebuild her life. “I really appreciate all your support, big and small,” she said. “My online community reached in a huge way and I am forever grateful […] I’m grateful for my family and so glad we are safe.”

Losing your life’s work

The list of similar stories is endless. Abstract painter
Daniel Mendel-Black’s home and studio, containing five years of work, was lost to the flames. Multidisciplinary artist Kathryn Andrews saw her Pacific Palisades home burn down; the second time she’s faced such tragedy following the 2020 Bobcat Fire. Artist and scholar Beatriz Cortez has lost her home too, writing on Instagram: “My heart is broken for my friends, and neighbours, for L.A. and for the things that I lost in the fire, like the one thing I had from my childhood, or my dad’s paintings.”

Photographic artist George Byrne reflects on the shared trauma. “Our house is safe, but so many friends have been evacuated and left homeless,” he explains. “A close friend who was evacuated is now staying in our place.”

George himself was lucky enough to miss the fires by two days, having flown out of LA to Montreal on Saturday. “I think I’m still processing what I’m seeing,” he adds. “Just beyond comprehension. Very sad for many, many people. I’m just praying those winds abate and give the fire crews a chance to get a handle on it all.”

Watching and waiting

Others, meanwhile, are still watching and waiting. They include Cat How, co-founder of the design agency How&How, whose home in Santa Monica sits on the edge of the evacuation zone, leaving her family in a constant state of readiness.

“We’ve packed our emergency bags and are keeping a close eye on evacuation notices,” Cat tells us. “The first night was terrifying. We could see massive clouds of smoke just six minutes from our house. Places we’ve frequented, where friends live, were suddenly in danger.”

Cat compares the experience to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic: “It feels like lockdown all over again. Schools are closed, the air quality is dangerous, and we’re stuck inside trying to keep things running remotely while keeping the kids calm.”

Despite the challenges, Cat highlighted the resilience of the local community. “People are coming together to help each other out. First responders have been incredible, and local support networks are stepping up in ways that inspire hope.”

Industry disruption

The fires have brought LA’s creative industry to a standstill. Filming on everything from America’s Got Talent and Suits: LA to Fallout Season 2 has halted, while events like the Critics Choice Awards and the Oscar nominations announcement have been postponed. Galleries, studios and co-working spaces lie in ruins, compounding the financial toll estimated at over $10 billion.

But while big studios will have insurance, many freelance creatives are uninsured or underinsured and face immense hurdles in rebuilding their careers. “This is a wake-up call,” says Cat. “Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it’s here. We must rethink how we operate and support one another.”

The one glimmer of light in a catastrophic situation, though, is the solidarity the creative community has demonstrated. Local organisations and collectives are rallying to support affected creatives. Relief funds have been set up, and temporary workspaces are being offered across the city. Social media platforms have become lifelines for creatives seeking support and sharing resources.

If you’d like to help

You can support the people of Los Angeles right now in many ways. You can: