SAN DIEGO RED CROSS HELPS THOSE DISPLACED BY NILAND FIRE

By Miriam Raftery

July 2, 2020 (San Diego) – On Sunday, a fire destroyed 40 homes and killed one person in Niland, California, an economically depressed desert town in Imperial County.  Around 130 people in the town of 1,000 were displaced and have been receiving help from the American Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties.

The Red Cross has requested donations which can be made at www.RedCross.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS. Due to COVID-19 and safe handling requirements, the Red Cross is unable to accept donations of goods.

The top priority is to provide shelter, as well as meals, relief and emotional support, as well as recovery planning and other assistance. The Red Cross has also assisted first responders in this fire.

Separately, several survivors families have set up Niland Relief funds on GoFundMe.

If you know someone in Niland and wish to connect after the fire, you can check this site which helps reunify loved ones after disasters: safeandwell.org.