LDS missionaries host wildfire recovery hub for victims of deadly California fires

PASADENA, California (ABC4) — Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came together in May to support the nearly 2,500 households affected by wildfires in Southern California.

After a number of blazes ignited in California just months ago, missionaries and members of the Church came together to host a week-long wildfire disaster recovery hub from the Pasadena Stake Center.

LDS missionaries provide aide to those affected by Southern California Fires. (Courtesy//Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

“We were worried in the beginning that all the help would dwindle and not go on, but there’s a lot of people and a lot of helping,” Zara Ciccotelli, a survivor of the Eaton fire, said.

The Church collaborated with the American Red Cross, Emergency Network Los Angeles, and Hope Crisis Response Network to provide household necessities for those most affected by the fires.

According to the Church, 1,200 volunteers contributed to over 7,000 hours of service in support of victims of the fires.

“The Church needs to be very proud of its missionaries. When you send these young people out, they’re learning a lot of life lessons, but they’re also sowing such great seed. And that’s what we need in our country.” Hope Response Network CEO, Kevin Cox said.

29 people died during the January wildfires. Tens of thousands were evacuated, and thousands of firefighters were deployed to battle the fires that stretched across 45 square miles of a densely populated area near Los Angeles.

Shaun Jorgensen, a local leader with the Church, says grass has already began sprouting and flowers have already began blooming in the area that was torched by the fires just months ago.

“It’s emblematic that there’s hope that Heavenly Father is mindful of us, that he will help us to rebuild,” Jorgensen said.

ABC News contributed to this reporting.