In the wake of the devastating Eaton fire, Day workers and farm workers have emerged as essential volunteers, providing the time and energy to help rebuild and clean the affected areas.
When the fires destroyed the community, many were forced to step in and support recovery efforts, including farm workers and daytime workers who witnessed the destruction. For weeks after the January flames, these workers have formed brigades, dedicating time to clean up the wreckage and assisting in cleaning.
One of the volunteers, David Sauced, shared, “I started cleaning the streets at first.” Now, a month later, their work has expanded into a more complicated recovery effort.
The Pasadena Community Job Center on Lake Avenue has now become a hub for these volunteers, now equipped with new training. “Here at the Pasadena Community Job Center, we had 175 workers who were certified by OSHA on workers at disaster sites,” said Jose Madera, the centre’s director.
Madera explained that the California Department of Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) is offering workers certification to clean property that was not completely destroyed by the fire. With many families returning to their still contaminated homes, these trained volunteers are intervening to help clean hazardous materials and recover the affected properties.
“There are a lot of families who are now returning home, but they still have contaminated houses, contaminated walls, contaminated rooms, so here at the Job Center, we are trained and As we continue to train our workers, they can help with recovery and cleanup,” Madera added.
Many families affected by the fire do not have the resources to cover renters’ insurance or clean up on their own, but they are also hoping to seek help due to fears surrounding the immigration situation. Sauced, a frequent volunteer, said, “I want to come here to see people who are scared and donate,” and gave support and understanding to those in need. Provided. ”
The training process involves learning how to handle dangerous materials and learning how to use specialized protective equipment. Some workers have lost on workplace opportunities a few weeks after the fire. However, they continue to be motivated by the greater needs of their communities and the possibilities for new work that stem from training.
“And we compensated some of the workers. Again, there are some specialties, some of the equipment needed. But again, this is the center of what workers want to do. , I want to support my family,” Madera explained.
The efforts and dedication of workers on these days will help restore not only the physical structure of the home, but also the emotional strength of the community.
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