To All UA Members:

Last week we all watched with great concern as hundreds of thousands of acres in Southern California were consumed by fire. At least 15 different fires roared across areas from Santa Barbara County south to San Diego County. More than 500,000 acres covering several hundred square miles were burning, and estimates are that more than a million people were evacuated and nearly 2,000 homes destroyed as the fires swept across the drought-stricken region.

The fires, which may be fully contained within two weeks, were fought by more than 7,500 courageous firefighters. As this is being written, the death toll had reached seven, and the damage to homes, apartments, businesses and habitat is expected to reach nearly $100 million.

Just as they did during the Hurricane Katrina disaster, our members and local unions are already rallying to help their brothers and sisters in Southern California. We have received many offers of assistance already and we know we will receive many more as the magnitude of this disaster becomes better known.

Our United Association Emergency Relief Fund is still active for this kind of situation. If you want to help, please send checks, made payable to "United Association Emergency Relief Fund," to the United Association, P.O. Box 37800, Washington, DC 20013.

We will make sure that your donations are used to help UA families who have been victims of this tragedy. On behalf of them and all our UA families, we offer our heartfelt thanks.

William P. Hite, General President