Israeli Emergency Response Organizations IsraAID, ZAKA Offer Assistance With LA Wildfires

Two emergency response organizations based in Israel have offered Los Angeles residents and even local firefighters help in combating the deadly wildfires that are currently raging and causing destruction throughout the Los Angeles area.

The international, nongovernmental humanitarian organization IsraAID announced on Sunday that it will send an emergency response team to help Los Angeles residents rebuild their lives and communities in the aftermath of the deadly wildfires.

Meanwhile, ZAKA, Israel’s volunteer civilian emergency service organization, said on Monday that it has offered LA firefighters immediate assistance in trying to maintain control of the ongoing wildfires. ZAKA said “highly experienced volunteer firefighters, including ZAKA South Africa teams, stand ready to deploy and seamlessly integrate with local forces in preserving lives and property.”

The wildfires in Los Angeles broke out on Jan. 7 and have already killed at least 24 people. More than 12,000 homes and structures have been damaged or destroyed and more than 100,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes, according to officials. Authorities said more than two dozen people are reported missing, Reuters noted on Monday.

Since 2001, IsraAID has provided humanitarian response during and after emergencies to communities around the world. As of January 2025, the organization has responded to more than 100 emergencies in more than 65 countries. It has often worked with the veterans-based disaster relief organization Team Rubicon to respond to emergencies in the US. Since 2017, IsraAID has worked in communities impacted by hurricanes in Florida, Texas, North Carolina, and Puerto Rico, and repeated wildfires in California.

“IsraAID’s Emergency Team is currently assessing the situation and preparing to respond, once the fires have been contained,” the Israel-based organization said in a released statement. “IsraAID will work with local partners to provide support for people whose homes have been damaged or destroyed. The organization is preparing to send an emergency response team, likely to include both Israeli volunteers and humanitarian professionals, to support communities affected by the fires. Final plans will be confirmed once the fires are contained, and the extent of the damage is clear.” The public is also encouraged to donate to IsraAID’s Emergency Fund.

“We are devastated to see the destruction from these enormous fires, and our hearts go out to all those who have lost their homes or been displaced,” said IsraAID’s CEO Yotam Polizer. “We have long-standing ties to communities in Los Angeles and across California and have deeply felt the impact of this emergency. We are proud to bring our expertise and support all the way from Israel, even as we continue our work in Israel and abroad. At a time of ongoing crisis at home and around the world, we are grateful to be able to aid communities in their time of need. This is what we do: support communities experiencing crisis, no matter where they are.”

Multiple lawsuits were filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday against Southern California Edison, a unit of utility Edison International, claiming that the company’s electrical equipment sparked one of the major wildfires, according to court filings.

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