Celebrity chef Guy Fieri is among those preparing food for the thousands forced to evacuate their homes due to the California wildfires.
More than 12,300 firefighters are battling 15 fires burning across the states, which have forced more than 44,000 people to evacuate their homes.
Fieri arrived on July 28 in Redding, a city of almost 100,000 people in northern California, after the Carr Fire swept through the area, according to CNN. The Carr Fire has destroyed more than 1,546 structures in and around Redding.
Two days later, José Andrés’s nonprofit joined him, although the chef himself has not traveled there due to similar efforts in Guatemala after the volcano eruption there.
With the help of others, Fieri and his team made over 1,000 meals twice a day. The efforts were made through Operation BBQ Relief and Andrés’s nonprofit World Central Kitchen.
Big thanks to the Cattlewomen of Humboldt for a great beef donation for the Redding evacuees! pic.twitter.com/Wb4kwsZqqL
— Guy Fieri (@GuyFieri) July 30, 2018
Wow!! Chef @Duskieestes and chef John from @Zazukitchen just rolled in with amazing potato salad for the lake county fire victims. pic.twitter.com/DVgitHegkV
— Guy Fieri (@GuyFieri) August 1, 2018
“My team and I got involved. My son and his buddies, and a bunch of my buddies, loaded up the caravan from wine country and drove four hours up here,” Fieri said. “We are just working arm-in-arm with the Salvation Army, local chefs, residents, and everybody helping out all of the evacuees.”
Nate Mook, executive director for World Central Kitchen, said workers are planning to cook 5,000 meals a day, and are working with the Salvation Army and the Red Cross to pinpoint where people need the most help amid the raging fires.