Local Businesses Help Los Angeles Residents Evacuating From Fires

As fires continue to burn in the Los Angeles region, local businesses here in the Coachella Valley are helping neighbors out in any way they can.

Samantha McDermott, the Co-owner of the Inn at Palm Springs NBC Palm Springs almost immediately following the start of the fires, she had Los Angeles residents checking into her hotel.

McDermott says she understands this is a difficult time for those affected, so to help those evacuating the fires, she’s offering a discounted rate to stay at the inn. "We are offering a safe place for folks who are impacted to stay if they book directly on our website, innatpalmsprings.com there's a promo code, 'safe' that provides them with a substantial discount, as well as free breakfast for two people." McDermott says.

Several hotels in the Coachella Valley are offering a similar discount for those evacuating. Alongside overnight stays, some local businesses are doing their part in helping out. This includes Bobo Palm Springs, a stationary shop, who decided to turn their weekly journaling meet-up’s into a donation fund to help those directly affected.

"So we've decided to turn that event, so instead of paying $10 to come and create stuff, it's now $10 going towards a donation fund that we're going to use to help support those that are direct victims of the fires." Angie Chua, the owner of Bobo Palm Springs says.

Moving forward, city leaders like Mayor Ron DeHarte hope Palm Springs can continue to be a safe space for those evacuating in Los Angeles. "Just like we saw during Covid. Folks saw refuge in Palm Springs. I think we're going to see that coming through out of this fire. This is not going to be a short term thing. This is not just people back in their homes, it's lost jobs. It's employees who've lost their place of employment, and it's a very challenging time."