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California Wildfires Hit Home for Howard Students

Los Angeles County firefighters battle a blaze in Pacific Palisades. (Photo: CAL Fire Official/Flickr)

By Jordan Jarrett

Howard University News Service

As wildfires continue back home, students from California like Zenani Minor are having a somber start to the new semester at Howard University. They are grappling with the devastation of being away from their communities, while trying to navigate how they can support wildfire relief initiatives.

“The fires were devastating news as I heard only a few days after returning back to D.C. from the holidays,” said Minor, a senior sociology major from the Inland Empire region of Southern California.

“The Eaton fires destroyed Pasadena and Altadena where I grew up,” she said. “Our family home was luckily untouched but close friends and family have lost everything.”

After erupting in Pasadena and Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7, wildfires have spread across Los Angeles County toward Ventura County, destroying thousands of homes and burning at least 50,000 acres.

“I feel incredibly helpless being here in D.C.” Minor said. “If I were at home, I would at least be able to help volunteer with my family, but I do what I can to help from here.” This includes sharing initiatives and campaigns through social media.

Kelechi Anusiem, a senior psychology major from Orange County, was also devastated when she heard about the wildfires and saw her community impacted.

“At first, I was in disbelief,” Anusiem said. “California fires are pretty regular. They happen all the time, but the scale of the fires is, I think, what shocked a lot of people and their inability to contain the fire.”

Despite the turbulent times, Anusiem believes Howard has done a lot for students by connecting them to counselors in California and offering resources.

Minor cited the email that Howard administration sent on Jan. 10, offering condolences and providing counseling services. But, that has been the extent of support she has seen. She hopes the university will donate to wildfire relief campaigns or offer grants to students who have families affected by environmental disasters.

Howard’s California Club has several initiatives to provide support for the wildfire victims and relay resources to students. The organization collaborated with other HBCUs like Morgan State University and created an Amazon wish list, where people can buy essential items and donate them to the Los Angeles Mission.

Chania Johnson, vice president of HU California Club, emphasized that communities will struggle to rebuild their businesses and homes.

“We noticed while volunteering in California that there was still a lot of stuff people needed aside from clothes like blankets and pillows,” Johnson said. “There are so many people in need and some people don’t realize the fires are still happening.”

Several initiatives and national campaigns have been created to provide relief and recovery for many people impacted by the wildfires. In Washington, GlobalGiving, a nonprofit that offers support to domestic and national communities in need, has connected with other nonprofits to provide instant relief and long-term recovery for victims through the California Wildfire Relief Fund.

Chase Williams, the director of Crisis Response at GlobalGiving, offered advice for Howard students and D.C. residents who are actively looking for ways to donate and support the victims.

“Try to have as close to the ground focus as you possibly can, so look at local campaigns,” Williams said. “And be intentional about circling back months later; don’t just make one donation and move on to the next.”

He emphasized that continued involvement beyond the first donation can contribute to a lasting impact on communities in need and help victims with long-term recovery. The organization itself has raised almost $1 billion from donations. About $280 million has gone toward disaster relief-related initiatives.

Williams also stated that people need to understand the rippling effects natural disasters can create, like economic issues for all communities.

“It’s important to not lose sight of how the increased frequency and severity of natural disasters, like wildfires, are directly connected to the climate crisis in many different ways,” Williams said.

In recent years, California has experienced wildfires that have ravished communities due to increased dry conditions and warming temperatures. Minor’s understanding of environmental changes has been shaped by her experiences with wildfires and seeing her home in a drought.

“Being here at Howard post-COVID also made me realize how terrible the air quality had become both here in the city and at home,” she said. “I have become very worried for our planet and for future generations that have to live here.”

Jennifer A. Francis, a senior scientist at Woodwell Climate Research Center, specializes in topics related to climate change. Her research focuses on how warming temperatures in the Arctic are affecting weather patterns in the Northern Hemisphere, which includes the United States.

There have been no updates as to what specifically caused the fire to erupt. But, according to Francis’ previous research, the Arctic is warming at roughly three times faster than average, which can lead to natural disasters.

Heavy rainfall followed by prolonged dry conditions has contributed to the severity of the wildfires, Francis said. She explained that these patterns are becoming more frequent and can create ongoing challenges.

“Another factor was the heavy rains that fell in Southern California during the past two winters that created a heavy growth of vegetation, which dried out during the rainless months since May and are now fueling the fires,” she said.

While the wildfires continue, organizations at Howard like the HU California Club continue to share relief efforts aimed at supporting displaced families and individuals.

“When the wildfires do end, it’s not the end for the people,” Johnson said. “They still have to raise money and rebuild their community. So now, we are working on solidifying a long-term donation system.”

Jordan Jarrett covers D.C. Council for HUNewsService.com.