The San Diego Humane Society has been on-site for four days helping owners evacuate their pets, reports, NBC 7’s Ashley Matthews.
With many San Diego County residents forced to flee their homes due to the fast-moving Valley Fire, which has burned more than 17,000 acres in East County since Sept. 5, many are wondering what they can do to help the victims.
The fund was activated Monday by administrators at the San Diego Foundation and will be used to solicit and distribute charitable donations for victims of the fire, which as of Monday had affected the communities of Japatul Valley, Carveacre, Lawson Valley, Wood Valley, Lyons Valley and Deer Horn Valley southeast of Alpine in San Diego County.
The disaster fund was established in 2003 to prepare for regional crises and provide relief to those affected by large-scale disasters. It has collected and handed out more than $13 million in the past to victims of San Diego wildfires in 2003, 2007 and 2017.
"[The] San Diego Foundation is collaborating with local officials and emergency response organizations working to help in the recovery of impacted San Diegans and their families," said San Diego Foundation president and CEO Mark Stuart. "These are the moments when San Diegans show their resilience and generosity."
Interested in making a contribution to the San Diego Disaster Fund? Click here.
As of Monday morning, the Valley Fire was only 1% contained, reports NBC 7's Melissa Adan.
The American Red Cross of the Southern California Region
The Red Cross is helping to lend a hand to the displaced, of course, as they do after any major incident. During the Valley Fire, they have been operating a pair of temporary evacuation sites, which are located at Steele Canyon High School, in Spring Valley, and El Capitan High School, in Lakeside.
Volunteer Red Cross workers at the schools have been providing food, drinks and other supplies to shelter visitors, and have also provided hotel rooms to 219 members of 73 families affected by the Valley Fire.
"Those impacted by the Valley Fire can mark themselves 'safe' or search for friends and family at SafeAndWell.org, a Red Cross website and free tool that helps reunite loved ones during disasters," the Red Cross said in an email sent to NBC 7 on Monday night.
Those in a position to help financially can contact the Red Cross by phone at 800-Red-Cross or make a donation here. People interested in volunteering can get in touch with the Red Cross here.
The Children's Nature Retreat in Alpine had to be evacuated over the weekend due to the fast-moving Valley Fire.
The San Diego County Department of Animal Services
Animal Services is helping care for small animals at the Bonita Animal Shelter during the Valley Fire, according to county officials. Compassionate pet lovers who want to help can contact the department of animal services here to volunteer.
The county also administrates the Spirit Medical Fund so "animals in need of expensive treatment could be helped." Tax-deductible donations can be sent by check to the Department of Animal Services at 5821 Sweetwater Rd. Bonita, CA 91902. Please write "Donation for Spirit Fund” in the memo field of the check. Would you rather donate pet supplies? Go here for details on how to make a donation.
Steven Luke
A sign reads "Thank you Cal Fire" amid the Valley Fire on September 9, 2020.
Steven Luke
Another sign reads "Looters will be shot" amid the Valley Fire on September 9, 2020.
NBC 7
A warm-colored haze lingers over the sky in San Diego’s East County.
NBC 7
Dry lands and brush are what’s left following the fire’s unforgiving path.
Ashley Matthews
A horse rests at a temporary evacuation site for equines. More than 1,000 residents of San Diego’s East County have been evacuated due to the Valley Fire.
Melissa Adan
All that’s left of this East County home is rubble. The blaze consumed the urn of a loved one, priceless photographs of family members and everything a family had.
Joe Little
NBC 7 reporter Joe Little discovered "Dead Dolly Lane" while surveying the Valley Fire's destruction in the East County on September 8, 2020.
Audra Stafford
NBC 7 reporter Audra Stafford was surveying the destruction of the Valley Fire in Lawson Valley on September 8, 2020, and this is all that’s left of one family’s home.
Audra Stafford
Audra Stafford
Joe Little, NBC 7
A hand crew marches uphill as they fight the Valley Fire in east San Diego County.
Joe Little, NBC 7
Acres of burnt land left behind by the Valley Fire.
NBC 7
Hand crews lay fire house while battling the Valley Fire.
Joe Little, NBC 7
A wildfire warning sign in east San Diego County.
Lakeside Fire Protection District
The Lakeside Fire District posted this photo on Sept. 6, 2020, of Fire Engineer Danny Leetch. The picture was taken after "26 hours straight on the fire line and fighting fire in over 108 degree heat."
Lakeside Fire Protection District
Lakeside firefighters battle Valley Fire on September 7, 2020.
Joe Little, NBC 7
Lawson Valley resident Dan Cassidy watches the Valley Fire from afar. Cassidy chose to ignore evacuation orders and stay home and protect his property.
Joe Little, NBC 7
Dangling power lines charred by the Valley Fire.
Bill Feather, NBC 7
Flames crawl up a slope near the Lawson Peak Trailhead along Lyons Valley Road during day 2 of the Valley Fire.
Bill Feather, NBC 7
A Lakeside Fire Protection District Engine protecting a structure along Japatul Road.
Bill Feather, NBC 7
Tanker 914 making a successful fire retardant drop along the Northern edge of the fire along Japatul Road, in the area east of Loveland Reservoir.
Bill Feather, NBC 7
Global Supertanker 944 makes a fire retardant drop over Horsethief Canyon along Lyons Valley Road during day 2 of the Valley Fire.
Bill Feather, NBC 7
Global Supertanker 944 makes a fire retardant drop over Horsethief Canyon along Lyons Valley Road during day 2 of the Valley Fire.
Melissa Adan/NBC 7
Flames along Lyons Valley Road near Alpine, the site of the Valley Fire.
Melissa Adan/NBC 7
Burn areas along Lyons Valley Road near Alpine, the site of the Valley Fire.
Melissa Adan/NBC 7
Burn areas along Lyons Valley Road near Alpine, the site of the Valley Fire.
leela
A viewer named leela sent this photo to NBC 7, saying this was the view from her parachute of the Valley Fire smoke on Sept. 5, 2020.
San Diego County Sheriff's Department/Twitter
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department shared this photo of the Valley Fire on Twitter on Sept. 6, 2020.
San Diego County Sheriff's Department
Smoke from the Valley Fire on Sept. 6, 2020.
NBC 7
A road leads to the relentless Valley Fire. Various road closures are in effect as crews respond to the blaze.
NBC 7
Bright flames could be seen coming from the blaze.
NBC 7
A large cloud of smoke is seen as a result of the blaze.
Ramon Galindo
Firefighters look at smoke from the Valley Fire from a distance.
NBC 7
Smoke is seen coming from the Valley Fire on its second day of burning.
NBC 7
An NBC 7 crew shot this image as they were near the flames.
Viewer, Ron Nehring, posted some pictures of his property in Crest on Old Mountain View Road.
Viewer, Ron Nehring, posted some pictures of his property in Crest on Old Mountain View Road
Viewer, Ron Nehring, posted some pictures of his property in Crest on Old Mountain View Road
Ruston Grau
NBC 7 Producer, Ruston Grau captured this picture near his home from Fletcher Hills.
Mark Mullen
NBC 7 Anchor Mark Mullen captured this plume of smoke as a hot air balloon rode by.
Steve Williams
Steve Williams was in a Southwest plane flying over the Valley Fire Saturday afternoon, about 4 p.m., he says.
Steve Williams was in a Southwest plane flying over the Valley Fire Saturday afternoon, about 4 p.m., he says.
NBC 7 anchor Monica Dean captured the plume of smoke.
Cal Fire San Diego
Cal Fire San Diego tweeted this photo at 5:52 p.m. saying the fire was at 1,500 acres
Greg Stickney/NBC 7
Ash from the Valley Fire seen in Eastlake over Labor Day weekend.
Arturo Salcedo
NBC 7 viewer Arturo Salcedo captured the “red glow” in National City as the Valley Fire burned way out in East County.
Rodney Jackson
NBC 7 viewer Rodney Jackson saw smoke in San Marcos.
Caitlin Daniel
Caitlin Daniel captured this image of smoke from the Valley Fire over El Cajon at sunrise on Sept. 6, 2020.
Lauren Finch
“This was taken on top of a hill in Poway,” said Lauren Finch. “Lots of smoke can been seen from the Valley Fire from here in East county.”
