Midland Have Family and Friends Affected by California Wildfires
Midland's Mark Wystrach, Cameron Duddy and Jess Carson have a special place in their hearts for California. Early on in their careers before officially forming as a band, their paths crossed in Los Angeles, while Wystrach also spent time in the city working as an actor and model.
Like many, they're heartbroken over the devastating wildfires that have ravaged the state. The Woolsey Fire broke out in Southern California on Nov. 8 and has spread throughout the Los Angeles region, including Malibu where many stars including Miley Cyrus have lost their homes.
The country trio have close family and friends that still live in the state, who keep them up to speed on the situation. "We've been watching vigilantly since the fire broke out because there's just so many people that we care about down there and it's just hard to not want to just get on a plane and go and try and help," Carson tells Taste of Country.
Wystrach reveals that Duddy's family has been evacuated and that they both have friends who are affected, losing their homes and places of business. "We also have a lot of friends that have been risking their lives since Thursday, guys that have basically created an underground fire brigade in Malibu and in the Malibu Lakes area and Agoura Hills," he explains.
"To all the families that have lost loved ones, the people who have lost their homes, it's devastating...it's just sickening."
The death toll across the state has reached 50 people according to CBS News and burned more than 8,000 structures, making it the deadliest wildfire in California history. Wystrach encourages fans to donate to the Red Cross and Los Angeles Fire Department to help those affected by the devastating natural disaster.
"There's so many people that need resources and there's so many clothing, food drives that are going to be going on for people that have lost everything. Going into the winter months, into the holidays, there's really no tougher circumstances," he says.
In spite of the tragedy, Wystrach is searching for hope, and trying to focus on the fact that people have gone out of their way to help one another. "In all the sadness and and the darkness, it is a little bit refreshing and inspiring to see [communities] come together to reach out," he says. "There's so many great stories of neighbors risking their lives to save neighbor's homes, to save their pets, and that kind of reinstitutes my faith in mankind a little bit."
Runaway June's Jennifer Wayne, a native of Southern California, has also reported that her family is safe, but their home has been threatened by the fire.
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