The Hungarian Community Shows Unity amid Los Angeles Fires

Fires raging in Los Angeles.

As fires still rage on in California’s largest metropolis, Los Angeles, we have asked Éva Voisin, our honorary consul in California, about how the Hungarian community is coping with the disaster.

---

Can you tell us how the fire is affecting Hungarians in California?
So far we know of two Hungarian families whose houses have burned down. Hungarian scout organizations are very active in helping those affected. There have been cases where one of our scout members had to evacuate their house, and other scout families took them in. Relatives, in some cases just acquaintances, and even strangers were helped by our community.
The most affected district of Los Angeles was Palisade, where there were two houses destroyed by the fires in which Hungarian-Americans lived. They lived here for many decades, so they were not just visitors. To the north are Altadena and Pasadena, the districts where most Hungarians live.

How many Hungarians are there in the Los Angeles area?
Approximately 100,000 Hungarians live here. So far I have not heard much concrete feedback from them about what is happening to them. I have  not heard from the Hungarian churches either, but I have good contacts among the scouts, and they have reported back to us about their experiences. For the time being, these two families, whose houses burned down, are the ones we are aware of. One of them is the uncle of a local Hungarian scout leader.

Have any of the Hungarians been injured?

I have no information on any injuries at the moment, but the people involved that we are in contact with are fine. They are being cared for by the large network that makes up our community here in Los Angeles. The Hungarian consulate in Los Angeles is the place to contact if local Hungarians need any help. The consulate follows events and the US State Department regularly sends important information to consuls of foreign countries. Not only this time, but we have received useful notifications of this kind in other recent disasters. The Red Cross, the State Department, and other local organizations are also notifying consulates of both the dangers and the assistance available.
There is a very good network of local Hungarians, one of which is in Hollywood. I have talked to many friends who live in Hollywood or Palisade. They are Hungarian or of Hungarian descent. The help that they provide is very good, because they have taken in a lot of families of people who were forced to evacuate. Relatives, acquaintances and complete strangers are offering their homes to people in need. We are used to this, especially in San Francisco. For instance, during the Paradise fires in 2018, some 19,000 structures burned down and 85 people have lost their lives.

Are there any special events or activities in the local Hungarian Churches or Christian communities?

Yes, our Christian communities automatically react to such emergencies. The local Catholic mission in San Francisco, for instance, is very active now.

There is a lot in the news about how people are angry about the disaster. What is the predominant feeling in the Hungarian community: anger, disputing responsibility, or is it more focused on practical help and solidarity?

It is not yet clear who is to blame or what caused the fire. The people I know do not even bother much with that. At the Catholic Mission there was a communal remembrance and prayer for the victims, and I think this is what happens in every other church.
Fortunately, we do not know of any Hungarians injured or who would have lost their lives. But we still help each other. A big problem is that the air quality here is terrible, and that in itself is a serious danger. The quality of water is also a concern, because there is a great shortage of water and the springs may be contaminated.

Has there been any offer from the Hungarian government?

If there has, I do not know about it. But the Hungarian consulate in Los Angeles coordinates such things. They should be contacted. The main thing is that everybody is very well informed, our network is excellent in that sense.

Is the consulate building itself in Los Angeles safe? Are there any plans for the immediate future to help one another?

The consulate is not at risk from the fires at the moment. For the time being, we have not started any collection for victims here because we cannot identify who needs help and what kind of help they need. But I suppose in time we will find out what damage has been done and what we can do to help, and we will organize a collection. The big problem is who among the Hungarians has insurance and who does not. In California, because of all the fires, it is hard to find insurers willing to take the risk. But there is a state fund to help those in need. So there is a solution. It is not as good as real insurance, so you do not get, say, 70% of the damage, but you get something. But of course the Hungarian community in Los Angeles will support its own members in such a case.

Featured Image: Wikipedia