The devastating Southern California wildfires have hit home with the INDYCAR community, as Verizon IndyCar Series driver Charlie Kimball rushed back to his family’s home outside Los Angeles on Wednesday to assist those affected.
Kimball’s family has a farm and ranch in the area, so he and wife Kathleen left their Indianapolis home to help friends and family in their around-the-clock effort to fight the fires threatening the area. He took the photo above after landing in Los Angeles.
“It’s terrifying seeing the glow of wildfires cover your hometown, especially with so many family members and friends in Ventura County right now,” Kimball said prior to departing Wednesday. “It makes it even harder to be far away, feeling helpless.
“Thankfully and most importantly, our families are safe, but it’s still so devastating to know their farmland is being destroyed. I know it’s a strong community and everyone is coming together to help out.”
Kimball is offering ways for anyone interested in donating to the fire relief efforts via his website, CharlieKimball.com. The simplest way to donate is by texting “UWVC” to 41444.
Kimball posted the following on Twitter upon his arrival in California late Wednesday: