A Latina-Led Effort Works to Protect Vulnerable Communities From Wildfires

This week, I’m taking on new job responsibilities (with an amazing group of people) while staying committed to the goal of publishing a daily post for The Latino Newsletter from Monday to Friday. Later this week, we will be presenting our strategic plan for 2025.

Here is today’s story.

Since we launched last May, one of our goals has been to showcase the work of organizations and initiatives across the country. While we’re nowhere near having local correspondents, we can continue to uplift pitches that align with our mission.

So when we received the following email on Monday about a Latina-led initiative focused on wildfire education in vulnerable communities, we knew we wanted to publish it.

The Wildfire and Smoke Experiences Project, a collaboration between Communities for a New California (CNC) and UC Irvine’s Program in Public Health, highlights the risks rural areas like the Eastern Coachella Valley (ECV) face due to extreme heat, strong winds, and lack of resources.

With the recent wildfires in Los Angeles County, the broader challenges of preparedness remain. According to a press release about the project, the Wildfire and Smoke Experiences Project aims to highlight the wildfire risks faced by rural and unincorporated communities, particularly in the Eastern Coachella Valley. It listed the following key factors that contributed to these risks:

• The lack of Spanish-language resources for wildfire preparedness

• Illegal dumping and burning of green and e-waste

• Limited government services and infrastructure in rural areas

• Displacement risks for unhoused residents

Participants in the project have reported health issues from repeated wildfire smoke exposure and stressed the need for more accessible emergency preparedness resources.

“This project was led by Latina women dedicated to amplifying the voices of those living in small, vulnerable communities,” said Anna Lisa Vargas, one of the project’s leaders and Coachella Valley Lead Organizer for Communities for a New California. “Wildfire education is not just a tool for preparedness—it’s a lifeline for these communities. With the current wildfires devastating L.A. County, the urgency to address these issues has never been greater.”

If you are organization doing community work and would like to be featured in The Latino Newsletter, you can email me any time: [email protected].

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About the Author

Julio Ricardo Varela is the founder and publisher of The Latino Newsletter.

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