The Latest on the California Wildfires: Relief Efforts, Real Estate, and Home Looting

By Friday morning, the death toll at the hands of the California wildfires currently wreaking havoc on the state had reached 66 while the number of missing Californians had climbed to more than 600. As for the fires themselves—the Camp Fire, in northern Butte County outside Sacramento, and the Woolsey Fire, in Los Angeles and Ventura County—they’ve burned a collective of more than 240,000 acres and destroyed more than 12,000 structures. The stats are disheartening, and with the Camp Fire only 45 percent contained and the Woolsey Fire, slightly higher, at 69 percent containment, these staggering numbers of destruction are sure to climb.

Relief efforts to help the victims are ongoing, as organizations across the board continue to ask for monetary donations rather than food, water, and goods, as donation centers are already overflowing with contributions. Celebrities, for their part, are stepping up with both their voices and checkbooks to galvanize the recovery efforts. Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth, who lost their home in Malibu, donated $500,000 through Cyrus’s Happy Hippie Foundation. Sandra Bullock sent $100,000 to the Humane Society—“I’m glad to be able to help. We’re all family in this, whether it be human, furry, or feathered,” she said—and another $400,000 to the Red Cross. Ellen DeGeneres teamed up with Walmart to give $100,000 to firefights who continue to take on the relentless flames. And a slew of other stars—from Bella Hadid to Patton Oswalt to the Kardashians—are chipping in to ensure those who need help are getting it.

Even so, as destructive as the fires continue to be, it’s what lies in the wake of the burning that has many Californians worried. Currently, looters are moving into Malibu and ransacking scorched homes for what, if anything, is left to take. And as reports roll out of these high-wealth areas being hit, many residents, celebrities included, are literally calling to arms. Most notably, P!nk’s husband, Carey Hart, recently posted an image to Instagram, which understandably stirred up some controversy. Actress Shannen Doherty posted a similar image on her Instagram Story, but later removed it and apologized for the insensitivity, adding, “I’m overly tired. I’m exhausted. I may not of [sic] used the best judgment.” Reportedly, 300 police officers have been dispatched to the area to ward off looters—but that seemingly isn’t enough for the owners of The Bachelor mansion: The owners have hired their own armed security guards to keep the property and its contents safe.

Perhaps most worrisome is what lies in the state’s future, when the smoke has finally cleared to reveal a very different real-estate landscape. As California’s population continues to grow while fewer homes are being built, the state has found itself in the midst of a housing crisis that ranks California 49th in the U.S. in housing units per capita. Further, seven of the ten most expensive U.S. real-estate markets are in California. Compounding all of this are the Camp and Woolsey fires, which have decimated countless homes. The Camp Fire, for example, nearly wiped out the entire town of Paradise, California. And while officials don’t yet know exactly how many have entirely lost their homes—as many are displaced—what’s certain is that of the 52,000 that had to evacuate, many will need new homes in the foreseeable future. And that’s a tall order for an area already struggling with a housing shortage and historically with a population of people who can’t afford to build new homes.

But, for now, California residents are still struggling with food, water, and monetary support. Here’s how you can help.

Related: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West Hired Private Firefighters to Protect Their Hidden Hills Home