In the span of just days, nearly two dozen separate out-of-control wildfires fueled by strengthening winds ripped across both Northern and Southern California Sunday evening and into the rest of the week, causing vast amounts of damage to property and massive loss of life. As of Thursday afternoon, the winds have picked back up and the fires continue to spread.

Mandatory evacuations continue to empty communities in the California counties of Napa, Yuba, Sonoma, Mendocino and Orange County. 3,500 homes and businesses are reported destroyed, with at least 21 confirmed human deaths. Wild animals have no choice but to simply run as fast as they can from the terrifying blazes consuming their homes. Thousands have perished, and many more are injured and need help.

Families have been forced to flee the burning onslaught with very little preparation or warning. Many barely made it out alive as they dashed to find and secure their animals. Now these family members - four-legged, winged or hoofed - must find shelter and hope for the best as firefighters battle an ever-growing blaze that has so far consumed well over 100,000 acres.

Your donation today in any amount provides relief to animal and human victims of these devastating fires. Food and supplies, shelter and care, your donation provides aid where and when it’s needed most.

In Defense of Animals' Nicole Otoupalik was caught in the Orange County blaze and got straight to work evacuating horses. Terrifying footage shows her leading one of the horses to safety while huge and angry smoke plumes approach the pair.

Courageous first responders continue their efforts to evacuate people and animals from communities that are in the path of the blaze. Brave firefighters struggle to contain a seemingly unending inferno. Every resource must be utilized, and every asset must be on the board.

Your generous support today will enable In Defense of Animals to bring aid and relief to victims of California’s rampant wildfires. Donations made to In Defense of Animals’ Disaster Relief Fund will help provide emergency supplies and resources to the thousands of displaced victims that this sudden unexpected crisis has created.