ORLANDO, Fla. — More than 45 square miles of land and thousands of structures have been destroyed as five fires continue to threaten lives in the Los Angeles area.

Five people have been confirmed dead and close to 130,000 people are under evacuation orders or warnings.

What You Need To Know

  • Six Central Florida volunteers have stepped up to head to California to help with wildfire relief

  • They will provide food, medication, clothing and shelter for those in need

  • Volunteers are deployed in 14-day increments

  • More volunteers may be sent to California depending on the need

To help the with response and recovery efforts, emergency response teams across the country are stepping up, including the American Red Cross of Central Florida.

Officials at the American Red Cross of Central Florida say they have six volunteers ready to help in a number of ways.

They have been tasked with providing comfort to those who may be experiencing the worst moments of their lives.

It’s the type of disaster that Central Florida’s American Red Cross volunteers say they know too well.

“It’s not a good feeling losing your home, especially after you worked so hard to get everything at your home and you lost everything,” said American Red Cross Shelter Supervisor Marjorie Pedro. “And all that you have to yourself are the clothes on your back.”

Pedro has been a volunteer for the American Red Cross for 28 years, and when she got the call to make her way to California, her bags were already packed.

“Ever since I joined the American Red Cross, we were taught to always be prepared," Pedro said. “I always have one special suitcase with just my red cross stuff inside of it, so if they call me, they called me last night and my suitcase was already packed so I was ready to go.”

As a shelter supervisor, Pedro will lead the group of five highly trained volunteers ready to take on any disaster, including wildfires.

“We have volunteers that will go out to provide food, provide medication that families may have lost, and clothing. Comfort as well,” said American Red Cross of Central Florida Regional Communications Manager Duhane Lindo.

Volunteers are deployed in 14-day increments because of the grueling environments and devastation they see others go through.

But Pedro said they’re trained for these moments and are hoping to help comfort as many people as possible.

“Just be understanding, and knowing that you’re trying to help someone,” Pedro said. “After you’ve done that, at least when I go back home I know that I helped someone. If not everybody, at least out of 100 or maybe 50 people we’re able to get back up on their feet and get them their emergency needs.”

The 14 day deployment period is typical but could be longer depending on the need.

Additional volunteers could also be sent to California if needed.