Three years ago today, life in Sonoma County changed forever. Many of us went to sleep the night of October 8, 2017 unsettled by the unusually wild winds in Santa Rosa. None of us ever expected in a million years what would unfold throughout the course of that very long night. A fire started in Calistoga around 2:00 am and spread like an inferno at a rapid speed fueled by 60 miles per hour winds, reaching the city of Santa Rosa within a few hours. Thousands of people woke up in the middle of the night, some having minutes to grab their loved ones and run for their lives. 22 human lives were lost on that tragic evening.

This past week in California, communities all across the Golden State have been displaced from their homes, experiencing the stress and uncertainty of unprecedented wildfires in the midst of a global pandemic. This is the update from CalFire as of August 26th:

At IHAN, we are feeling the grief and outrage over the brutal murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery among so many Black lives lost because of racial violence. Additionally, we have witnessed first-hand that communities of color are disproportionately impacted during disasters, from climate disasters to Covid-19, and we deeply recognize the health disparities that exist for people of color as well.

The Integrative Healers Action Network, created in Sonoma County during the 2017 fires draws on the skills of chiropractors, massage therapists and osteopaths to provide crisis care to those in need. ​

Our community in Sonoma County is experiencing an unprecedented wild fire disaster. As of October 27th, 190,000 Sonoma County residents have been evacuated from their homes with over 35,000 acres burning at 11% containment. 

Dr. Jen Riegle, ND and Jenny Harrow, MA of Integrative Healers Action Network (IHAN) are excited to announce that IHAN is the recipient of a grant from the American Red Cross to continue operations in 2019. The grant funding allows IHAN to continue to build our capacity to serve those displaced by natural disasters, as well as respond to disasters that may take place in 2019 in California.

​The barrage of recent wildfires in Northern and Southern California wrought widespread environmental havoc, and also spurred major health challenges in communities ravaged by the blazes. Throughout the state, practitioners representing a wide range of disciplines are on the front lines, trying to restore health and balance.

​The volunteer response to the wildfires in Sonoma County has a distinctly California flavor. Thousands of alternative-medicine practitioners like naturopaths, chiropractors — even aroma-therapists are donating treatment to anyone affected by the fires.

​After weeks of back-breaking and exhausting work fighting the Northern California wildfires that erupted on Oct. 8, firefighters are being cared for in a different, unique way.