Studios Pledge Millions in Wildfire Relief & Support
The fires in southern California are ongoing. A bit of bright news, however, is that as of this past Wednesday evening, January 15, the red-flag warnings had expired in much of Southern California. The desert winds are expected to shift and offer the region some reprieve after a nightmare stretch. Yet forecasters have warned that daunting conditions could resume early next week and are predicting the Santa Ana winds might change direction on Thursday. The situation remains fluid.
Firefighters and first responders are still working around the clock, fighting ongoing blazes and assessing the damage. These wildfires have been the most destructive in state history, displacing more than 100,000 people, destroying over 12,000 structures, and killing at least 25. The latest conditions show the largest fire, the Palisades, is, as of this writing, 27% contained, having already burned over 23,700 acres and still threatening residential areas. The Eaton fire, covering more than 14,000 acres, is now 55% contained. In the nightmare scenario that these wildfires have brought to Southern California, these numbers count as decent news. It was only a week ago when both fires were entirely uncontained. A favorable shift in wind and herculean efforts by those fighting the fires have helped create real progress.
The major studios have been mobilizing their own relief efforts for both immediate and long-term recovery, collaborating with organizations like the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, the Screen Actors Guild, the Entertainment Industry Foundation, World Central Kitchen, and more.
Deadline reported that Comcast NBCUniversal is donating $10 million to support L.A.’s recovery. The Comcast NBCU donation includes $2.5 million to the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles’ ReBUILD LA initiative—Comcast NBCU is a corporate partner. The money will also go to organizations working tirelessly on the ground, including the aforementioned Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, the American Red Cross, and the Entertainment Industry Foundation SoCal Fire Fund. The Comcast NBCUniversal Employee Disaster Assistance Fund provides grants to employees and double-matches employee donations to the fund. Comcast NBCU also provides emergency financial funds, including health and welfare benefits, temporary housing, and hotels at discounted rates for employees affected by the wildfire.
“Our hearts go out to all who have been impacted by these devastating fires, including many in our Comcast NBCUniversal family,” Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said in a statement. “We extend our deep appreciation to the first responders for their tireless and courageous efforts and to our news teams, including NBC4 and KVEA, who are providing vital coverage during this time. We stand ready to support our employees and the broader Los Angeles community as we recover and rebuild from these tragic events.”
Comcast NBCUniversal joined Disney, who, on Friday, January 10, announced they were donating $15 million for rebuilding efforts.
“As this tragedy continues to unfold, The Walt Disney Company is committed to supporting our community and our employees as we all work together to recover and rebuild from this unbelievable devastation,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said at the end of last week. “Walt Disney came to Los Angeles with little more than his limitless imagination, and it was here that he chose to make his home, pursue his dreams, and create extraordinary storytelling that means so much to so many people around the world. We are proud to provide assistance to this resilient and vibrant community in this moment of need.”
Disney has also opened its wardrobe warehouse for employees affected by wildfires. Disney’s wardrobe warehouse is located in North Hollywood, and employees can access new or gently used clothing and shoes from recent film and TV productions at no expense.
“Most companies are not sitting on an entire warehouse full of wardrobe — some of which has been barely used, if it’s been used at all,” said Heidi Chong, Vice President of Production Shared Services for Disney Entertainment Television. “We really want to emphasize to the families: ‘If you come here, we’ve already organized everything for you. It’s all on display on the racks. You can find what you need.’ There are no limits to the amounts that people are getting; it’s really about what they need.”
Warner Bros. Discovery has pledged an immediate donation of $15 million for rebuilding and response efforts. WBD is also offering employees temporary housing, with an astonishing 1,300 staffers being evacuated, with 20 having lost their homes entirely. WBD has blocked off and paid for hotel rooms for affected employees and offered to pay for meals for any staffer who has taken in displaced friends and family members. “Our studio has called Burbank home for more than 100 years, and we are focused on what needs to be done to help those impacted rebound from this disaster and rebuild in the weeks, months, and years ahead,” a spokesperson for WBD wrote.
Paramount Global‘s co-chiefs, Brian Robbins, Chris McCarthy, and George Cheeks, wrote a memo to their staff stating the company would donate $1 million to various relief efforts, including the Red Cross, World Central Kitchen, and the Los Angeles Fire Department. Paramount is also providing cash grants and temporary housing to employees displaced by the wildfires through the company’s Employee Assistance Fund.
Amazon, Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios‘ parent company, said it would be committing $10 million from its entertainment division to the American Red Cross of Southern California, FireAid, MusiCares Fire Relief Effort, World Central Kitchen, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and more. Amazon Web Services, Ring, and Whole Foods Market are contributing essential items through its Disaster Relief hubs. In addition to supporting organizations like FireAid, MusiCares Fire Relief Effort, and Habitat for Los Angeles Wildfire Fund, donations will also fund in-kind advertising opportunities on Prime Video for non-profits supporting LA fire relief efforts.
Amazon also created the Wildfire Relief Hub, which is based two hours east of LA and stocked with over 6,000 essential items—to deliver them to organizations working on the relief effort. Those items include tools for firefighters and first responders, including goggles, masks, axes, smoke pumps, high-particulate-matter filtration respirators, hydration packets, and shelter kits.
Netflix has said it will donate $10 million to support the relief and recovery efforts of the Los Angeles wildfire disaster. CEO Ted Sarandos said the company would split its $10 million donation between the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, California Community Fund Wildfire Recovery Fund, World Central Kitchen, Motion Picture and Television Fund, and the Entertainment Community Fund.
“For many people who aren’t familiar with it, Los Angeles conjures images of palm trees and red carpets; mansions and movie stars,” Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos wrote in a memo to staff on Monday. “But for those of us lucky enough to call this city home, Los Angeles is far more than that. It’s a family — one made up of extraordinarily talented, hardworking people from all over the world and all walks of life, many of whom came here chasing a dream.”
Sony has stated they’ll donate $5 million to unspecified groups aiding relief efforts. “Los Angeles has been the home of our entertainment business for more than 35 years,” said Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida and president Hiroki Totoki, adding: “We will continue work with our local business leadership to determine how best Sony Group can support relief and recovery efforts in the days ahead. Our thoughts go out to those who are impacted by this devastating situation.”
There will be a long road to recovery. Firefighters, first responders, and regular citizens—often neighbors helping neighbors—have done heroic work in the past two weeks. Meanwhile, the entertainment community has demonstrated remarkable solidarity, and these initial contributions will undoubtedly play a crucial role in supporting those affected. As the situation evolves, continued support and a focus on long-term recovery will be essential for the affected communities to rebuild and thrive. One thing that has become evident through this nightmare is the resilience of the Los Angeles community. With the continued support of individuals, organizations, and the entertainment industry, the path to recovery will be paved one day at a time.
Featured image: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 12 : Fire Fighters from Woodland Hills searches for hotspots in a burned home at Pacific Coast Highway on January 12, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Multiple wildfires fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds are still burning across Los Angeles County while some containment has been achieved. At least 16 people have died and over 100,000 people are still under evacuation orders. Over 12,000 structures have been destroyed in the fires. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
