Recovery and Resources: Where to Get Help

Fire Disaster Aid Centers

State authorities and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have set up four Southland disaster assistance centers to help fire victims.

* Hours: The centers listed below are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and can provide information on low-interest loans for residents and business owners who sustained losses. Victims can go to any of these centers, no matter where they live.

* Other programs: Crisis counseling; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance on legal issues, veterans benefits and Social Security matters. Also, rental payments for temporary housing; grants for making minimal repairs to primary residences that are habitable, and unemployment payments for some workers who temporarily lost jobs.

* Hot line: FEMA’s disaster hot line for general information is (800) 525-0321 and is staffed 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

* Phone program: You may apply for assistance over the telephone by calling (800) 462-9029, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, if you are prepared to provide basic information, details about your insurance coverage and other information to help substantiate your losses.

THE CENTERS * Arcadia Community

Regional Park

405 S. Santa Anita Ave.

* Laguna Beach

Recreation Center

505 Forest Ave.

* Ventura County Sheriff’s

Training Facility

Camarillo Airport

273 E. Pleasant Valley Road

* Riverside County

French Valley Airport

37552 Winchester Road

Murrieta

* San Bernardino and

San Diego counties

Call FEMA’s hot line:

(800) 462-9029

Utilities and

Other Services

Southern California Edison and other utilities and agencies have set up centers to answer any utility- and service-related questions.

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

* Foothill Service

Restoration Center

Altadena Senior Center

560 E. Mariposa Ave.

Two blocks west of Lake Avenue

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through next Sunday

(800) 300-0073

* Participants:

Southern California Edison

Southern California Gas Co.

Pacific Bell

Waste Management Inc.

Several water districts

American Red Cross

U.S. Postal Service

LAGUNA BEACH

* Laguna Beach Center

Laguna Beach Water District

306 3rd St.

8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Wednesday

Participants:

Southern California Gas Co.

Southern California Edison

(Walk-ins only)

Donations

Among the organizations offering help are the following:

RED CROSS The American Red Cross is accepting monetary donations only. Make check out to American Red Cross and earmark it for the Disaster Relief Fund. To be trained as volunteer, call your local chapter.

* Los Angeles Chapter

2700 Wilshire Blvd.

Los Angeles 90057

* San Gabriel Valley Chapter

430 Madeline Drive

P.O. Box 91087

Pasadena 91109

* Ventura County Chapter

2355 Portola Road

Ventura 93003

* Orange County Chapter

601 N. Golden Circle Drive

P.O. Box 11364

Santa Ana 92711

* Riverside County Chapter

8880 Magnolia Ave.

Riverside 92503

* San Diego/Imperial Counties

P.O. Box 85224

San Diego 92186

SALVATION ARMY These locations are accepting clothing, blankets, non-perishable food items and money:

* 916 Francisco St.

Los Angeles 90015

* 960 E. Walnut St.

Pasadena 91106

* 818 East 3rd St.

Santa Ana 92701

* 3695 1st St.

Riverside 92501

* 825 7th Ave.

San Diego 92101

* 155 S. Oak St.

Ventura 93001

OTHER GROUPS

* Fire Emergency Relief Fund

Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles

P.O. Box 2164

Los Angeles 90051

(213) 482-2040

(Check or money order only)

* California Community Foundation

Soliciting money to distribute through local nonprofit organizations in Altadena, Ventura County and Orange County. Send checks with area designated, if so desired.

Southern California Fire Fund

California Community Foundation

606 Olive St.

Los Angeles 90014

* World Vision

Accepting donations for neighborhood cleanup and recovery programs.

World Vision Fire Relief Fund

P.O. Box 1131

Pasadena 91311

* Operation USA

Accepting money for long-term assistance to community organizations damaged in the fire and soliciting corporate gifts of plastic sheeting to seal damaged houses against rain.

Operation USA

c/o Los Angeles Fires

8320 Melrose Ave.

Los Angeles 90069

(213) 658-8876

* Lutheran Social Services

Accepting money, clothing, bedding and canned food.

1010 E. Locust St.

Pasadena 91106

* Bethany Church

Accepting canned food, children’s clothing, household goods and furniture.

93 N. Baldwin Ave.

Sierra Madre