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Top Stories of 2025: Long Beach Steps Up to Support the Region During LA Wildfires
By Staff Writer
Published on Wed, Dec 24, 2025
As 2025 comes to a close, we’re celebrating the stories that helped move Long Beach forward this year. From major project milestones to moments of regional leadership, it’s been a year defined by progress and a strong commitment to community.
That spirit was on full display early in the year, when a series of devastating wildfires swept across the Los Angeles region. Long Beach quickly stepped up to support neighboring cities, mobilizing resources and personnel to assist with the regional response. The City deployed dozens of public safety personnel to assist in affected areas, reinforcing Long Beach’s role as a reliable regional partner in times of crisis. Notably, Long Beach also made history by deploying some of the City’s first-ever non-sworn civilian staff into an active disaster zone—pioneering new models for regional disaster response and strengthening cross-agency partnerships.
At the same time, the City remained focused on keeping the local community informed and protected. Local fire stations remained fully-staffed during the fires, even with 60 firefighter personnel deployed to the LA region.
On Jan. 7, 2025, Long Beach activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to monitor wildfire conditions, coordinate regional resource requests and respond to evolving needs. The EOC remained active through Jan. 27, convening over a dozen times and bringing together nearly 40 representatives across 15 departmental teams, EOC staff and City leadership to ensure a coordinated, timely response.
The City also distributed N95 masks to help residents reduce exposure to smoke and poor air quality during the peak of the fires. During this time, the inclement weather shelter was activated for people experiencing homelessness, offering shelter and resources for the City’s most at-risk populations.
To further support residents, the City launched a dedicated emergency webpage and temporarily activated its call center, providing a centralized source for critical public health and safety information. The webpage offered real-time updates on air quality, health advisories, evacuation information, service impacts and emergency resources, along with interactive maps showing evacuation zones and air quality conditions across Los Angeles County.
The City’s support continued well beyond the immediate response. During the City’s January 2025 State of the City address, Mayor Rex Richardson issued a call to action, encouraging the community to support wildfire victims through charitable donations to the California Community Foundation. Our community stepped up and over $625,000 was raised, from Long Beach, between the individual pledges and direct Long Beach-based corporations.
Later in the year, the City took additional steps to help those impacted rebuild and move forward.
In November, the Department of Economic Development & Opportunity (EDO) launched a new employment and training initiative to support residents affected by the January wildfires. Facilitated by the Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network (LBWIN), the program provides paid, on-the-job work experience for 10 participants, along with training scholarships of up to $7,500 for five individuals pursuing industry-recognized credentials in high-demand fields such as healthcare, information technology and advanced manufacturing.
Together, these efforts reflect Long Beach’s readiness in times of emergency—both locally and regionally. By acting swiftly, communicating clearly and continuing support long after the flames were extinguished, the City reaffirmed its commitment to standing strong for its community and neighbors when it matters most.
