Heavy metal band Metallica has announced a $500,000 donation to support wildfire relief efforts in Los Angeles through their nonprofit foundation All Within My Hands.
The donation will be split between the California Community Foundation's Wildfire Recovery Fund and the Pasadena Community Foundation's Eaton Canyon Fire Relief and Recovery Fund to assist communities devastated by the ongoing fires.
"The fires raging in the Los Angeles area have relentlessly wreaked havoc and widespread destruction since January 7 and, sadly, do not show signs of slowing down," the foundation said in a statement.
The wildfires have claimed 24 lives so far, forced nearly 100,000 people to evacuate, and destroyed over 12,000 commercial and residential structures across the Los Angeles area. Officials warn that dangerous wind conditions expected this week could further intensify the blazes.
Metallica, which was formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by drummer Lars Ulrich and vocalist-guitarist James Hetfield, established the All Within My Hands foundation in 2017. The nonprofit focuses on supporting workforce education, fighting hunger, and providing critical local services to communities in need.
The band's contribution joins other major relief efforts from entertainment and sports organizations in Los Angeles, as the region battles one of the most destructive wildfire disasters in California history.