Ashland residents wishing to donate items, money, or time have many options. In partnership with the Ashland Parks & Recreation Commission we are hosting the website
ashland.or.us/ashlandresponse to direct people on how to help. There are many options with mobilized and established organizations operating aid centers in the county area. They do get overwhelmed with volunteers so please make contact before showing up or delivering goods to make sure it’s needed. Often, a gift card or other financial donation are the most effective show of support.
The devastation experienced by our friends, family, and extended community is almost impossible to comprehend. Our hearts are broken and given Ashland’s character; we want to help. And we will help over the coming days and years of recovery as we navigate this complex situation. It’s important to realize that there are still fires being extinguished, utilities are heavily damaged, and the emotional impact and physical recovery is just beginning. Yet, people are displaced with few resources and clearly in need of aid right now. Knowing our City government’s role in the immediate and longer-term response to this fire is sometimes conflicting and often difficult to understand, but we will find the best ways to provide help to our neighboring governments of Phoenix and Talent. We are feeling the effects as City employees who live in Talent and Phoenix have been displaced by evacuations or loss of their homes.
“Our hearts are broken over the losses experienced as a result of this fire, and we’re just at the beginning of a long and difficult journey together,” said John Stromberg, Mayor of Ashland.
Ashland residents wishing to donate items, money, or time have many options. In partnership with the Ashland Parks & Recreation Commission we are hosting the website
ashland.or.us/ashlandresponse to direct people on how to help. There are many options with mobilized and established organizations operating aid centers in the county area. They do get overwhelmed with volunteers so please make contact before showing up or delivering goods to make sure it’s needed. Often, a gift card or other financial donation are the most effective show of support.
The City of Ashland has set up a resource and referral line at 541-552-2500, which will be staffed from 8 am – 8 pm daily during the crisis. You can also email
ashlandresponse@ashland.or.us. We can tell you about shelters, resources and donation locations in Ashland as they become available and direct you to other resources in the Rogue Valley.
The impact to Ashland has been relatively slight in comparison to Talent and Phoenix and therefore our city government response may seem inadequate to some. Our Ashland firefighters worked to exhaustion over the last few days, as have various departments in support of street closures, law enforcement investigations, and fielding calls for information. We will continue offering our help to Talent and Phoenix as we have capacity and the need arises.
