Image – Getty: Kevin Lendio
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
Contributing to Bookstores, Comics Shops, and Employees
Even after an easing of the Santa Ana Winds in the Los Angeles area of California, authorities are reporting that another week likely will be needed simply to gain the required level of control of the emergency, meaning that the horrific urban wildfires there will have been at least a two-week event.
At this report, latest updates indicate that the fires have burned more than 62 square miles (160.5 square kilometers), according to Cal Fire’s figures. The death toll stands at 25 and is considered likely to rise. As many as 82,400 residents remain at this writing under immediate evacuation orders or warnings of imminent evacuation.
At least 12,000 structures are believed to have been destroyed in the Eaton and Palisades fires alone, the two biggest of the conflagrations, and at many points, there has been sharp concern for the Getty Villa in Malibu and Getty Center in Brentwood, two of the world’s most revered collections of Greco-Roman and Etruscan (the Villa) and European and North American art (the Center).
The New York Times‘ updates indicate that the Palisades Fire of more than 23,700 acres is 22-percent contained and still a threat “to neighborhoods on the west side of Los Angeles,” while the Eaton fire at some 14,000 acres near Pasadena is 55-percent contained. It’s good to remember that “containment” does not mean that a fire is no longer burning but that firefighters have managed to create barriers around the given percentage of its flames to help stop spreading.
With many readers in both the United States and in other markets concerned about the impact of the fires on industry players, the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc) has announced that a US$55,000 grant has been amassed to match donations to assist bookstores and comics shops and their employees in the area facing so much fiery destruction.
The benefactors behind this major grant include:
- Dav Pilkey
- Forefront Books
- Ingram Content Group
- Macmillan Publishers
- Mad Cave Studios
- Tokyopop
Any gift, regardless of size, will be matched, and donations can be made here.
Binc is reporting that dozens of stores selling books and comics have been shuttered by the fires, as “many book and comics people have been forced to evacuate or shelter in place. The organization reports that it knows of at least seven booksellers how have lost their homes.
Pamela French
Pam French, Binc’s executive director, says, “We were still hearing from book and comics people devastated by hurricanes Helene and Milton last fall when the calls started to come as a result of the wildfires that hit just a week into the new year.
“We know from experience that the need will continue to grow as damage is assessed, the fires are contained, and the cleanup begins.
“We’re so grateful for the support of our partners who quickly rallied to provide this generous matching gift.”
The gift-doubling grant now in place is said to have been prompted by an initial US$10,000 matching grant from Bookshop.org.
More on the Book Industry Charitable Foundation is here, more on bookselling in the world market is here, and more on the United States’ book industry is here.