Beyond the flames: Addressing the ripple effects of California’s wildfires

California is once again in the grip of a devastating wildfire season. Entire communities have been displaced, lives uprooted and landscapes will be forever altered.

As headlines focus on houses burned and evacuation counts, it’s vital to recognize that wildfires’ impacts extend far beyond the immediate crisis. While devastating, wildfires are about more than flames – there are long-term, cascading impacts, disproportionate harm to marginalized communities, and the importance of thinking about recovery now, even while the fires rage.

It’s not just the fire

The damage caused by wildfires doesn’t stop at charred homes and blackened forests. For example, the thick smoke that blankets cities and towns far beyond the fire’s perimeter carries fine particulate matter, often toxic, that infiltrates lungs and endangers lives. As Californians contend with the growing haze, the health risks will multiply—especially for children, older adults, and those with preexisting respiratory or heart conditions.

The negative effects also extend to water and soil. Ash and debris from fires can contaminate water supplies, while damaged soil becomes prone to erosion, increasing the likelihood of landslides during the rainy season. Wildfires in agricultural regions also disrupt food production, threatening livelihoods and the state’s role as a national food supplier.

As these impacts ripple outward, they highlight an inescapable truth: wildfires are not isolated events. They unleash waves of environmental, economic and health challenges that endure long after the flames are extinguished.

Marginalized communities bear the brunt

California’s wildfires expose and exacerbate existing inequalities. Marginalized communities, such as those with lower incomes, communities of color and immigrant populations, often live in high-risk areas due to systemic inequities in housing and land-use policies. These groups are less likely to have adequate insurance or savings to recover from catastrophic losses, making the road to recovery even more arduous. When evacuation orders come, logistical and financial barriers—such as lack of reliable transportation or housing—make it harder to leave, putting them at even greater risk.

Marginalized populations beyond the immediate vicinity of the fires are also at risk. Take, for example, farm workers across California. Like many other essential workers, they continue laboring in hazardous air conditions with little access to protective equipment or health care. For these families, the fires threaten not only their immediate safety but also their livelihoods. Recovery resources often fail to reach these communities. Language barriers, digital divides, documentation fears and bureaucratic hurdles may prevent marginalized populations from accessing aid. The result is a widening gap: those already vulnerable before a disaster find themselves even further behind in its aftermath.

Long-term recovery: Why start now?

As Californians grapple with the immediate impacts of the wildfires, it’s tempting to focus solely on immediate relief efforts. But long-term recovery can’t wait. Communities need sustained support to rebuild—not just homes but lives and infrastructure. History has shown us that the most vulnerable communities are left behind without early investments in recovery.

Long-term recovery from wildfires is a complex and multifaceted process. Some examples of what needs to be addressed include:

• Mental health support: Survivors face significant trauma, from losing loved ones to navigating the uncertainty of displacement to fears of future fires.
• Economic rebuilding: Businesses that close during wildfires often struggle to reopen, especially small enterprises that form the backbone of many communities.
• Environmental restoration: Rebuilding ecosystems is critical, from reforestation to addressing water contamination.

Taking a long-term, holistic view now ensures that recovery plans address immediate needs while building individual and community resilience for the future. How can we better support communities vulnerable to the events that threaten their future? How can rebuilding efforts reduce risks for the next fire season? These questions require answers today.

A call to action for donors

California’s wildfires are not just a climate story—but a human story. They reveal the deep interconnections between environmental disasters, systemic inequities and the need for a long-term view of thrivability.

As California navigates this season’s devastating fires, CDP invites all in the philanthropy and social impact sectors to join us in taking a broader, more equitable approach to recovery.

As smoke lingers, let us not lose sight of the bigger picture. This is not just about responding to today’s fires—it’s about preparing for tomorrow’s challenges.

The time to act is now.

What you can do

• Support immediate and long-term needs, especially of marginalized communities.
• Address root causes of inequities that make some communities more vulnerable during disasters.
• Take a holistic view of what communities need to rebuild stronger and be better prepared for the next disaster.
• Partner with government and local organizations to ensure no one is left behind.

If you would like to support the equitable long-term recovery of communities affected by California wildfires, please consider giving to the CDP California Wildfires Recovery Fund.