Enough With The Random Donations, LA Firefighters Implore

LOS ANGELES, CA — One lesson to take away from the catastrophic Woolsey fire is that the people of Los Angeles County have big hearts. Maybe too big.

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Fire Department issued an unusual plea: Lay off the donations. Firehouses across the region have been beset with random, well-meaning gifts. Thousands of pounds in donations including water, energy drinks, blankets and chapstick have turned up at station houses, and it’s gotten to the point where firefighters don’t know what do with them. The piled up goods are actually causing problems for the department.

“Can we ask a huge #WoolseyFire favor? There are rumors that Los Angeles Firefighters are in need of donated food or supplies, such as blankets, wipes, water, energy beverages, snack bars, toothpaste or eye drops during current wildfires. Nothing could be further from the truth,” the Los Angeles City Fire Department wrote on Facebook. “Sadly, we're not only emotionally overwhelmed with your profound kindness during the Woolsey Fire, but logistically as well. To the point that the well-meaning donation of physical goods to firefighters is at the brink of causing harm.”

Tired firefighters returning from the frontlines have nowhere to store the 5,000 pounds of bottled water that randomly turned up at fire stations over the last few days, officials explained.

The charitable outpouring may have been spurned on by false rumors about firefighters in need. Kris and Kylie Jenner tweeted to their millions of followers a call for donations. They included a list of firefighter needs including everything from ziplock bags to chapstick and eye drops.

Only, firefighters really don’t need those things. A warm-hearted 'thank you' will do.

“We deeply sense your appreciation, and want you to know that nothing could mean more to us than seeing you and your family safely in front of your undamaged home. Your smile, a friendly wave or a simple hand-scrawled "Thank You" sign means more than words could ever describe,” department officials wrote on Facebook. “Your LAFD crews purposely prepare (and pack) for extended wildfire deployment, and to return to their stations to find 600 unsolicited gallons of bottled water (that's a 5,000 lbs surprise we have to move and cannot safely store on site), or 200 cubic feet of perishable food we can't refrigerate, is something that touches our heart, but quickly becomes an unmanageable task that takes us away from caring for you - or each other. So... if you encounter someone telling you to bring badly needed items to a Los Angeles Fire Station, please direct them to this message. We're touched to the point of tears by your kindness, but truly are not in need of anything more than a wave or a smile. If that should change, we pledge to let you know.”

For caring souls looking for a way to help their neighbors get through this devastation, there are nonprofit groups in need of donations to help the fire victims.

The Los Angeles Fire Department recommends donating to the nonprofit support groups here: American Red Cross Los Angeles Region, http://supportlafd.org, https://www.wodff.org, https://firefamilyfoundation.org

Photo: Firefighters battle a blaze at the Salvation Army Camp on November 10, 2018 in Malibu, California. The Woolsey fire has burned over 70,000 acres and has reached the Pacific Coast at Malibu as it continues grow. (Photo by Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)