Orange Relief for California Wildfires

Tough times and tough weather bring out the best in Home Depot associates. Stores throughout California heard the call to action last month as fire season roared into Southern California. our stores were quick to provide assistance to local fire departments,  evacuation centers, Red Cross chapters and the Salvation Army.

Relief organizations received water, masks and cleaning supplies. Stores also created special disaster relief care packages (sifter, rack, shovel and plant inside a Homer Bucket) to distribute to residents impacted by the fires.

Response by our stores included:

Los Angeles “Station Fire”, the largest in Los Angeles County history.
Store Manager Gil Camarena of Store 609 in San Fernando met with the main command station to determine needs, and with temperatures topping 100 degrees, water was at the top of the list. The store provided supplies to the local Red Cross chapter and coordinated sifters and disaster relief care packages for area residents.

Store 6654 in Burbank delivered water, towels and dust masks to a command station and an evacuation center. Store manager Danielle Mailhoit hosted a Kids Workshop for evacuated families at the center.

Store 653 in Santa Clarita partnered with the Los Angeles fire department command camp center, as well as firefighters from Union City. The store donated water and cleaning supplies.

“There are more than 2,500 firefighters camped at Central Park, and they are so thankful when they see us arriving with much-needed supplies,” said Home Depot Store Manager Kim Cherney.

Yucaipa Fires, about 90 miles east of L.A.
Store Manager Tim Pfingston of Store 1013 in Redlands met with fire officials and arranged for supplies such as water, lumber and nails for the command center at Yucaipa Regional Park.

Auburn Fires, near Sacramento
Store Manager Garrett Churchill of Store 8597 in Auburn worked with the Red Cross, Salvation Army and the local fire department, and the store distributed disaster relief care packages.

Additionally, Western Division merchants ensured that necessary supplies were brought in when needed for our customers. The Western Community Affairs team continues to assist stores by providing direction and dollars to support the communities affected by these horrible fires. The Homer Fund, our charity for Home Depot associates, was on standby, ready to assist associates affected by the fires.

“Taking care of each other and the community during a disaster is one of the things The Home Depot family does best. We are here to support our communities through donations to relief organizations, getting much needed product on our shelves that our customers need and supporting clean-up efforts through donations and Home Depot volunteers,” said Joe McFarland, Western Division president.

“I am proud to wear orange every day but especially during times like these, when you truly see the heart of our Company doing everything we can for our communities.”