Disaster aid for Los Angeles could soon be on the way from King County

King County officials have approved a plan to send disaster relief to communities impacted by fires in the Los Angeles area.

On Tuesday, the King County Council passed a proposal from Councilmember Reagan Dunn, requesting a county response to the fires that have been raging through L.A. County for the past week.

"It's the middle of January here in Seattle. We don't have a high fire threat, and we do have access to resources that can help," Dunn said.

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Someday, Dunn warned, Washington state could face a disaster of similar proportions and will need help. And many agencies outside Washington have lent a hand to help the state get through disasters in the past.

"When Mount St. Helens erupted back in the 1980s, governments across the country lended a hand to help us survive," Dunn said.

His legislation calls for sending support like medical supplies and emergency kits to California, plus collaborating with local nonprofits that have ties to Los Angeles.

With the County Council's approval, the proposal will now go to the King County Executive's Office, where a county response will be drafted.

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During the Council hearing, Councilmember Rod Dembowski suggested ending semi-permanent housing structures the county used during the Covid-19 pandemic. They are currently sitting in storage.

In an emailed statement, Amy Enbysk, press secretary for County Executive Dow Constantine, said the office is "currently reviewing the legislation from Councilmember Dunn's office, and working to assess how King County can most effectively support relief efforts for the California wildfires."