Questions are being raised about how the roughly $100 million raised by “Fire Aid” concerts in the aftermath of the Los Angeles fires earlier this year is being spent — with some claiming victims are receiving nothing.
The star-studded bill for the benefit concert, held on two separate stages, raised a massive sum. But many residents of the Pacific Palisades and Malibu (Palisades Fire), and of Altadena and Pasadena (Eaton Fire), say they have not benefited.
There have been two significant local investigations by local news outlets, each of which came to different — though not necessarily contradictory — conclusions about Fire Aid’s money.
The first, by ABC affiliate KABC-7, concluded that the money was being well-spent — on organizations:
Roughly 120 organizations split $50 million when the first round of FireAid funds was released in February. 7 On Your Side tried reaching out to every single one of them, and heard back from more than 50 to find out how the money is being used.
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The Pasadena Humane Society used $250,000 from FireAid to treat and house pets burned and left homeless by the flames.
Heal the Bay received $100,000 and used it to test for contaminants along our coast.
However, Circling the News, as highlighted by local Fox affiliate KTTV, found that few victims had benefited.
Hellbound and Down 