The fire-relief efforts in Northern California are getting a boost from some of the biggest tech companies in Silicon Valley.
Smoke from the wildfires ravaging wine country are currently choking out residents in San Francisco’s bay area, so Apple, Google and Facebook are stepping up by donating local efforts.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Apple plans to donate $1 million to the fire-relief efforts. Employee donations are also being matched two for one.
Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted on Tuesday about the fires, imploring affected friends & neighbors to stay safe and that Apple would be donating to the cause. The donation comes after Apple’s already donated millions to support the hurricane-affected regions in Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico. As well as donations for Mexico’s earthquake clean up.
Our thoughts are with our Bay Area friends & neighbors affected by wildfires. Please stay safe! Apple is donating to aid relief efforts.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) October 10, 2017
Facebook is donating $1 million as well. Its funds will go to local Napa Valley relief group and the Red Cross California Wildfires Fund. Google is donating $500,000 local organizations.
After San Francisco officials released a health warning due to air quality, Uber began offering free or discounted rides to 4 San Francisco public libraries with filtered air. The deadly blazes have already claimed 23 lives while burning through 191,000 acres and destroying 3,500 buildings in Northern California.
