Direct Relief to distribute free N95 masks in Santa Ynez Valley as Lake Fire grows to more than 20,000 acres

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – Direct Relief is offering help to the community impacted by the Lake Fire in northern Santa Barbara County.

The direct relief team was busy giving out free N95 masks outside the Montecito Bank in Solvang on Tuesday.

"You know that the air quality is likely to diminish over the over the next few days. it already smells like smoke so we’re just giving people mask to help them breathe a little easier," said vice president of communications Tony Morain of Direct Relief.

The nonprofit organization is known for responding to emergencies across the country and around the world.

But helping those in need locally is just as important to them.

“When something happens close to home it’s personal for us it’s … it’s something that everyone on staff wants to jump in and help with and that’s what we’re doing right now," said Morain.

“I mean, we are so grateful to be out here helping the community. the fact that we have the resources to help people and we’re able to come here and support the area that we started incredible," said volunteer Julia Demontagnac of Direct Relief. “I hope that we’re able to offer a sense of relief by providing these mask and helping people out and making people feel like they’re supported and safe.”

Direct relief's team is closely monitoring the lake fire's growth.

The team will return to the Montecito Bank in Solvang at 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday to distribute more masks to the community.