It’s been one week since a series of wildfires began in Los Angeles, California that has since claimed at least 25 lives and forced at least 92,000 residents to evacuate. Firefighters estimate that they’ve still only contained as little as 17% of the Palisades Fire, and warn that very high winds might continue feeding the firestorm.

Democrats have cited the fire as a warning and a call to action against climate change, while Republican icons like Elon Musk have blamed “DEI” for the severity of the fire, arguing that L.A. fire departments could have contained the fire better if they did not invest in DEI hiring policies.

Watch the above video as Straight Arrow News contributor Jordan Reid recounts her own personal experiences fleeing from the fires, warns against politicizing this disaster, and asks all Americans to help however they can. In particular, she recommends the following organizations:

• Greater Good Charities — Disaster Relief
• World Central Kitchen — Southern California wildfire response
• The Los Angeles Fire Department — Donations

The following is an excerpt from the above video:

And need I remind anyone who forgets: The fire did not strike only the rich, even though that wouldn’t make the losses any less devastating. The very heart of Los Angeles lies in its diversity. We’re a city of wealth, and we are also a city of immigrants and working-class people. We have some of the nation’s finest, fanciest dining and some of the world’s best street food. Our residents come from every corner of the globe, every socio-economic level, every race, every political sphere, and right now, everyone is hurting. Lives have been lost. Thousands of homes, many of which have been in families for generations — gone. Countless animals are displaced and frightened, and the suffering is tremendous. And the outpouring of support is tremendous as well.

A few nights ago, I was standing on the street alongside my neighbors, all of us watering down the vegetation surrounding our homes as the fire expanded and the winds turned in our direction. And let me tell you, I know for a fact that some of us have wildly differing political opinions, but all I saw that night was generosity and support that just superseded everything else.

If you want to help, links to places you can donate can be found below. LA does need your help. It just doesn’t need your political opinions.