Dodgers announce LA teams coming together in heartwarming fashion for wildfire relief

Last week, Freddie Freeman and Chris Taylor announced major donations to and fundraising efforts for the Los Angeles Fire Department, Pasadena Fire Department, and the Salvation Army as four wildfires continue to devastate southern California. Freeman and his wife Chelsea pledged $300,000, $100,000 each for all three organizations, and Taylor and his wife Mary are matching donations up to $5,000 to the LAFD through the CT3 Foundations.

LA-based teams also came together in partnership with Fanatics to release a shirt, the proceeds of which will go to the American Red Cross and LAFD.

However, the Dodgers and 11 other teams, including the Angels, are contributing more. On Jan. 13, they announced they would be donating a combined $8 million to at least eight different organizations, including the Red Cross, LAFD, and the California Fire Foundation.

They added that $3 million worth of Fanatics merchandise to evacuated residents, and that Dodger Stadium, SoFi Stadium, and BMO Stadium would host distribution events on Friday to give out "personal hygiene kits, school supplies, sneakers, and more."

Dodgers are one of 12 LA teams to band together and contribute to California wildfire relief

Containment numbers for the Palisades, Eaton, Auto, and Hurst fires continue to improve, but Santa Ana winds continue to threaten accelerated spreading, and the damage so far has been catastrophic. Over 80,000 residents are still under evacuation and curfew orders between 6 AM and 6 PM.

Winds were less fierce than predicted on Tuesday, and coming winds aren't projected to come toward the current fires. Still, read flag warnings remain in place.

The Dodgers are only doing the logical thing here. As perhaps the most beloved franchise in Los Angeles, it's only right that they should give back to the community after some of the most devastating fires in the region's history. Hopefully, they'll also be a part of community rebuilding efforts going forward.