A impromptu call for donations at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl stadium led to a surge of support, but officials had to redirect the effort after the overwhelming response blocked access to the area for emergency agencies.
The Eaton Fire started on Tuesday, burning nearly 14,000 acres, killing at least five people and destroying more than 7,000 homes, business and other structures in the Altadena, Pasadena and Sierra Madre areas.
All hands have been on deck this week around the region to help people who have evacuated, lost their homes and belongings, including community and personally organized efforts, but a flood of donations in Pasadena nearly disrupted the flow of the area’s emergency services.
Social media food blogger @rocknrollfoodie earlier this week set up shop at Rose Bowl Stadium to give free food to people affected by the wildfires across L.A. County. Others were encouraged to bring water and other items for fire victims, quickly turning the site into an unofficial donation center.
The Rose Bowl, though, is currently serving as an emergency response center for Pasadena Police and Fire, as well as a command center for additional outside emergency services, food and supply providers in the area, Pasadena spokesperson Lisa Derderian said Friday. It was never meant to receive personal donations.
“The Rose Bowl needs to be priority for emergency vehicles coming from numerous states to help protect life and property,” Derderian said. “It never was an official drop off site; it snowballed into this.”
Sunday’s Rose Bowl Flea Market is also canceled due to these operations, the statement read.
Pasadena police cleared out the crowd Friday after influxes of people showed up Thursday night and Friday morning to give what they could, including prepared meals, old couches and chairs, Derderian added.
Trucks dropping off donations for the community call-to-action were blocking public safety vehicles, she added.
“Due to the Eaton wildfire, the Rose Bowl Stadium is currently being used for emergency response efforts by fire and police departments of the City of Pasadena and other regional agencies, therefore restricting entry and exit to the area,” Rose Bowl representatives said in a Friday statement. “Please avoid the area and prioritize your safety during this time.”
Around noon Friday, the public had left the Rose Bowl parking lot and the unofficial donation center had been moved to Parsons Corporation office at 100 W. Walnut St., Pasadena, according to police officers at the site. A few cars continued to pull up, however, asking where to drop off donations.
The donation site at Parsons is also at capacity and the city asks people to hold off on bringing donations there as well as they have limited staff and resources, Derderian said, and the city is working to come up with a management plan.
“We appreciate it, it’s heartfelt, but please wait until we have a plan in place,” Derderian said.