Airbnb is offering free listings to the more than 250,000 residents who have been displaced by the fires raging in and around Los Angeles.
As many as 1,500 homes are participating in the company's OpenHomes campaign in Los Angeles, San Diego and Santa Barbara counties, and an additional 1,100 are offering shelter in Butte County where the Campfire continues to rage.
The Hill Fire, which began late last week, was declared 100 percent contained this morning. The Woolsey Fire, on the other hand, continues to smolder through the canyons of Malibu and Ventura as firefighters work day and night to battle the blaze.
Airbnb’s OpenHomes program offers free stays to people affected by natural disasters and illnesses requiring medical travel. Hosts are encouraged to sign up spare rooms or whole apartments for a set period of time, in exchange for 24/7 phone support and the promise of property damage coverage from Airbnb.
Airbnb’s efforts are a welcome bright spot in a news cycle dominated by reports of record-breaking destruction and mercenary firefighting forces. Other large California companies including Microsoft, Apple and Disney are also offering relief support for victims of the fire.
The OpenHomes campaign for relief workers and those evacuated because of the Woolsey and Hills fires started November 9 and runs through the end of the month, according to Airbnb’s website.
For other disaster relief resources, see this exhaustive list from the local Ventura County NPR station.
