Direct Relief has offered emergency assistance to the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Services and Public Health Department in response to wildfires burning across the County — The Alamo fire, which has scorched more than 28,900 acres to the east of Santa Maria and the Whittier fire, which is burning along highway 154 near Lake Cachuma in the Santa Ynez Valley. Whittier has swept through more than 10,800 acres.

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Direct Relief maintains an inventory of fire-related items – N-95 particulate masks, inhalers, nebulizers, and personal care items – for wildfire events, and they are available should the County responders request this aid for their work or support of the community.

Beyond the immediate threat wildfires pose to people in evacuation zones, smoke and fine particulate matter in the air can cause severe complications for people with existing respiratory conditions.

Direct Relief will continue to monitor the situation closely and stand ready to mobilize resources as needed upon direction from the County Emergency Operations Center.