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We here in Los Angeles area are just completely devastated by all the extreme and ongoing loss. The beautiful ocean view guest house we lived in for 5 years has burned. However, we are still safe. We may be participating in the Airbnbn housing program for homeless due to fires. Other close friends have lost everything too.
From our perch we have seen nothing but three days of huge smoky plumes, flames at night, and can’t imagine all the people and animals fleeing desperately away. We could be in danger momentarily, but are prepared to leave. I had covid, but have recovered and packed up the trunk of my car today so am less fearful. No smoke here however. No electricity, but have internet and generator atm.
United and so thankful for our community and all the help put on the line by our leaders, we will rebuild.
It is indeed terrible. Thanks for letting us know what’s happening in your immediate area and take care. Hopefully the wind dies down- I know that is not only quickly spreading the fires, but also impeding the efficacy of the water bombers.
Yes, the winds were gusty today but they are sky fighting. We can see the helicopters filling right below us out of the ecology pond for the Kenneth fire, which thankfully they have suppressed.
I just read that the Kenneth fire was started by an arsonist! They apparently caught him and he’s being held by police. Just unbelievable that there are such crazy people out there.
Airbnb said it has expanded its housing support to an additional 25,000 people who have been impacted by the fires.
The company partnered with 211 LA, a hub for local community members and organizations, earlier this week to offer free, temporary housing to individuals and families who lost their homes or were forced to evacuate.
It said 6,500 people have already been offered access to emergency housing with Airbnb hosts, but that thousands more are still displaced.
“The situation is devastating, and we’ll continue to do everything we can to support the Los Angeles community,” it said in a statement.
Do hosts get any compensation from Air or just a frebie that makes Air look like a hero.
If it’s being done under Airbnb. org., which was set up years ago to provide emergency housing for victims of natural disasters, refugees, etc., I believe the host can set the terms of the housing- offering a discount rate, or having the guests cover expenses, or simply letting them stay for free.
A little odd, Airbnbn.org does not have a portal for hosts to sign up that I can see. I think there is another program that will pay 1/2 of guests cost for Airbnbn type emergency housing
Yes, that arsonist belongs in jail, he purposely lit a tree at the east end of a park with strong winds blowing west. I haven’t heard but I cannot imagine if someone was out in that park for a walk, the terror!
We are thankful that our neighbor Kevin is back from his trip. He is a very knowledgeable kind of wanna-be fireman and is very community minded and well connected to the fire heroes. He left our hood, and went straight up to the front danger fire lines to help!
Looks like people can’t go to Air directly, have to go through 211 LA (whatever that is), guess to see if they qualify to stay at a rental free. At least Air is advertising the rentals as free.
That would probably be better. It doesn’t seem like Airbnb vets very carefully for Airbnb.org.
And unfortunately there are always scammers looking to exploit a situation.
I remember reading posts from hosts who were accepting Airbnb.org bookings from emergency medical responders when Covid was at its height, only to have the booker and their entire family show up, basically on vacation.
Other hosts have reported getting bookings in the past from people who were supposedly displaced from hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, etc, only to have them turn out to be scammers just looking to get a free place to stay.
I’m a bit cynical about Airbnb’s actual “caring”, as opposed to calculated virtue signalling. This was kind of evident when they didn’t make any allowance for homeshare hosts who had closed to bookings during Covid. After 1 year of suspending the # of stays requirement for Superhost after Covid hit, they decided to strip us all of our Superhost status, regardless of whether we were vulnerable seniors who homeshare. Meanwhile, they were still pushing their enhanced cleaning protocol, much of which was ridiculous. (Wash the ceiling? )
For now I am blocked for two months with hopes of getting an ltr private booking, and only open for the next week and after those 2 months , I guess, in .org program…
I just changed my prices to be lower and opened calendar to 2 weeks minimum. 28 day max. I just have not the energy to do STr right now, and power outtages coming back… . Every thing is wrapped up and put away up at Tiny Tiki to ensure fire safety as much as possible.
Have not had any bites for 1-6 months possible rental to fire homeless.
I sent you a private message through FB Messenger on Wednesday but hadn’t heard back yet. I was thinking maybe by the time I messaged, y’all might have already left the area.
Hi Kim,
Thanks and so sorry I did not see that. Your caring is so special to us! Still spectacular and heartbreaking ongoing here. But atm we still safe. The winds are gusty.
Sunday 1-12-25 update
We are clear skies here all day but hyper vigilant + scared about the next few days wind event. My energy is so drained…
Generally I agree hosts receive very little recognition when they provide by far the largest financial contribution, in these efforts. I have escalated (to Nathan
My heart goes out to those suffering from the fire. I don’t live there but as a host, I would be concerned about opening my rental for folks to stay based on current laws in CA made by delusional politicians voted by their people. Based on what I see on the news, I don’t think I, as a host, will be protected against potential squatters, damages, looters, etc…no thanks. When a high ranking fire dept. official in fire prone areas says that their top priority is DEI, there’s a problem. Being soft on crime, lack of priorities on $ spent…I can go on. Regardless, I do applaud those who have deep hearts and guts to open up their places to strangers in need.
Sadly, we will see in the next 4 years the terrible effects of your rhetoric and view of how you see your neighbors. I shudder when I realize that by only 1% of the popular vote and the badly damaging (and racist) Electoral College a person was elected championing a world which we hoped to leave in the past.
FYI, California is run by elected officials who serve the people of their state, with laws and vision reflecting what their constituents prefer.
Rolf - I personally don’t like the man running the next 4 years but I do agree to some of his policies. Everything is great until something bad happens. Ask the fire/criminal victims how they feel about what’s going on in CA. When you’re at the receiving end, you’ll understand.
Mistakes by a few and all of us as tax payers will end up paying for this disaster.
DEI and “soft on crime” have absolutely zero to do with rapidly spreading fires exacerbated by high winds in one of the driest areas in the US.
And using this disaster to spout political opinions negates your “my heart goes out” rhetoric.
And FYI, the President elect has no policies, other than those which will personally enrich him and his billionnaire buddies.
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