California Wildfire Recovery Efforts

November 15, 2018

The wildfires raging in multiple regions of our state have had devastating effects, and many members of the CSU family have been directly impacted.

At this point, a total of nine of our sister CSU campuses have either closed or curtailed campus activities to protect safety or because of concerns over air quality. I have reached out to the presidents of the three campuses most heavily affected—Chico, Sonoma, and Channel Islands—to let them know that Cal Poly Pomona stands ready to assist in any way we can. I was heartbroken to learn that to date nearly 200 members of the Chico State campus community have lost their homes, with over 300 evacuated. The magnitude of the Camp Fire on Butte County is profound with President Hutchinson reporting last evening that after 138,000 acres burned, it is still only 35 percent contained. 

We are mindful of the suffering in our region as well as those across California who are impacted by the fires. Links for the recovery fund sites to support faculty, staff, and students at Chico, Channel Islands, and Sonoma can be found below:

• California State University, Chico: https://app.mobilecause.com/vf/WildcatsRise
• California State University, Channel Islands: https://www.csuci.edu/giving/causes/support/ekho-your-heart.htm
• Sonoma State University: http://news.sonoma.edu/article/nomacares-center

As we hold activities this week on our own campus for Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, I encourage you to consider ways that you might assist those in need.