FireAid: Benefit concert announced for LA wildfire victims

A benefit concert to aid wildfire victims will be held at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on 30 January.

The event is being planned by music heavyweights: Shelli, Irving, and the Azoff family in conjunction with Live Nation and AEG Presents.

Organizers say money raised will help those affected by the fires and go towards “rebuilding infrastructure and supporting displaced families.” FireAid donations will also provide funding for “advancing fire prevention technologies and strategies to ensure LA is better prepared for fire emergencies.”

As of writing, an estimated 24 lives have been claimed, more than 9,000 structures have been destroyed, and more than 30,000 residents have been told to evacuate their homes. Celebrities such as Anthony Hopkins, James Woods, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Mel Gibson, Paris Hilton and Mark Hamill have had their homes reduced to rubble.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the LA wildfires are already one of the costliest natural disasters in the country’s history, with damages estimated to total $57 billion (approx. €55bn).

No lineup or ticket info has been released yet for FireAid, but considering the concert will take place days before the Grammys, there is already growing chatter that artists like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift or Kendrick Lamar could be participating in FireAid.

Elsewhere, Disney said it will donate $15 million to respond to the fires and help rebuild. The company announced the money would be spread across several groups, including the American Red Cross, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

“Walt Disney came to Los Angeles with little more than his limitless imagination, and it was here that he chose to make his home, pursue his dreams, and create extraordinary storytelling that means so much to so many people around the world. We are proud to provide assistance to this resilient and vibrant community in this moment of need,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement. 

Additionally, Los Angeles sports organisations are uniting to launch an “LA Strong” custom logo and apparel line that will raise money for organizations assisting those impacted by the wildfires (see above).  

Fanatics announced that t-shirts featuring the new logo will be available to purchase on team and league online stores, as well as the Fanatics website. The collaboration spans eight leagues, the University of Southern California and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic organizing committee.

Additional sources • AP