Southern California Fairgrounds Join Effort To Shelter People And Animals Displaced By Wildfires

The wildfires this month in Southern California have resulted in an activation of emergency shelter resources to house displaced people and animals, and the state's network of fairgrounds has stepped forward to assist.

The Antelope Valley Fairgrounds opened its RV park to people forced to flee the Eaton fire. More than 50 RVs and their occupants spent a number of days there. The fairgrounds also hosted animals rescued from fire zones.

The fairgrounds at Del Mar are housing horses this week after the Lilac fire erupted near Fallbrook in San Diego County.

Also, the Los Angeles County fairgrounds/Fairplex housed 57 horses displaced by fires in the region.

"Fairgrounds continue to demonstrate their value beyond annual fair events and entertainment," said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. "They are truly community resilience centers able to activate at a moment's notice in times of crisis, and they serve their communities in many more important ways. We are very fortunate to have them as partners across the state."