Miscellaneous
Over 100 wildfires are burning across the western United States, setting the stage for an unprecedented fire season as the Covid-19 pandemic persists. In California, six of the state's ten largest wildfires are currently burning, as uncontrolled fires rage across Oregon, Washington, and Arizona, torching millions of acres and killing at least 11 people. Direct Relief has deployed several kits of emergency medical supplies, including N-95 masks, hygiene items, and essential medicine, to health facilities in fire zones. The current wildfires have only compounded the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, flaring up respiratory illnesses and straining already limited resources. On this episode of the podcast, we speak with Direct Relief's head of emergency response, Andrew MacCalla, about how the organization is approaching the concurrent emergencies, ensuring an urgent and robust response to both.