As wildfires continue to rage through California for the tenth consecutive day, little has been reported about Hungarian people and communities living in the affected areas. Hungary Today interviewed Éva Voisin, Hungary’s honorary consul for Northern California, to learn how Hungarians are experiencing the catastrophe, how they are surviving, and how they are helping one another.
According to Voisin, approximately 100,000 Hungarians live in the fire-affected areas of Los Angeles, one of the United States’ largest metropolitan regions. Most reside in the northern districts of Altadena and Pasadena. While Pasadena has been one of the areas severely impacted by the disaster, the tangible effects on the Hungarian community have been limited to two families who lost their homes, Voisin explained.
The honorary consul highlighted the vital role of Hungarian scout organizations, which have been actively supporting those affected. ‘There have been cases where one of our scout members had to evacuate their house, and other scout families took them in,’ Voisin said.
‘The honorary consul highlighted the vital role of Hungarian scout organizations’
This spirit of community-driven aid extends beyond immediate family and friends to include acquaintances and even strangers, underscoring the tight-knit nature of the Hungarian diaspora in Los Angeles.
Although no injuries among Hungarians have been reported, Voisin emphasized the importance of the support network: ‘The Hungarian consulate in Los Angeles is the place to contact if local Hungarians need any help.’ She also praised the efforts of local institutions such as churches and the Catholic mission, which held a communal remembrance and prayer for the victims.
One pressing issue, according to Voisin, is the lack of precise data on who among the Hungarian community has insurance. ‘In California, because of all the fires, it is hard to find insurers willing to take the risk,’ she noted. However, there is a state fund available for those in need. ‘It is not as good as real insurance...but you get something,’ Voisin explained, adding that the Hungarian community is prepared to support its members.
‘In California, because of all the fires, it is hard to find insurers willing to take the risk’
‘For the time being, we have not started any collection for victims because we cannot identify who needs help and what kind of help they need. But I believe in time, we will find out what damage has been done and organize a collection.’
California has been ravaged by destructive wildfires for over a week, with apocalyptic images emerging from Los Angeles daily. As of today, 24 lives have been lost to the disaster. President-elect Donald Trump blamed Governor Gavin Newsom for the crisis, calling him incompetent and accusing him of blocking an infusion of water to Southern California due to concerns over the impact on a threatened fish species. Firefighters have reportedly faced water shortages in recent days.
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