In January, the Collision Industry Foundation (CIF) recognized the crisis Southern California faced as devastating wildfires forced families to evacuate, destroyed homes and businesses, and threatened communities.
It is estimated more than 12,000 homes, businesses and other structures were destroyed and more than 40,000 acres burned in multiple fires, including the Pacific Palisades Fire, west of Los Angeles, the Eaton Fire near Altadena and the Hurst fire near Sylmar. There were reportedly 200,000 evacuation orders and at least 29 people died.
As part of its mission to secure and distribute donations to individuals who have experienced significant losses due to natural disasters or other catastrophic events, CIF set aside $250,000 in assistance specific for victims of the California wildfires who work in the collision industry.
Since then, the organization has provided financial assistance to several individuals, like Matthew Knetge, and invites the industry to reach out if they know someone who was impacted.
“We try to give some to everybody who has a need,” said Paul Hill, the new vice president of CIF’s Board of Trustees. “Our hearts are with those whose lives were upended by these horrible events.”
Hill has connected with a variety of individuals in the collision industry who have been impacted.
“I've talked to people who have lost everything except the clothes on their back and those who had smoke or fire damage to their roof but their house is OK,” he said. “It’s tragic and heartbreaking to hear what they're going through.”
He said that, fortunately, none of them so far have lost their shops due to the fires.
“The consistent factor amongst the people I've talked to is the struggle of finding a temporary place to live because there are so many people displaced,” shared Hill. “There's not a lot of temporary housing for them.”
Hill said the biggest struggle every time there's a catastrophic event like this is the lack of awareness that CIF exists and is available to help. He encourages the industry to help spread the word so that people can reach out and get assistance.
Hill said it has always been important for him to have an opportunity outside of work to do something to help the people he is around all the time.
“The only people you spend more time with than your family are those in the industry,” he said. “Being able to help somebody who is going through such a tough time is what keeps me moving to spend the time it takes to volunteer and be a part of CIF.”
For more information about volunteering and/or donating to CIF, visit the website.
Stacey Phillips Ronak