Photo Credit: Riverside County Fire Department Volunteer Photographer Tod Sudmeier.
If you lost food due to this natural disaster, you may qualify for replacement benefits
CalFresh customers who lost food purchased with their benefits due to the Rosa fire or related power outages must report their food loss by Tuesday, Sept. 2, to receive replacement benefits.
The Rosa fire, which ignited on Aug. 4, 2025, has burned more than 1,000 acres in Riverside County, prompting mandatory evacuations for hundreds of households. Many residents experienced power outages from Public Safety Power Shut-Off events and transportation challenges due to the closure of Highway 74, a major route to impacted rural communities.
Some households displaced since the start of the fire were unable to return home until Aug. 9, making it difficult to assess and report food loss. To help, the state has recently approved a waiver of timely reporting requirements, giving households extra time to request replacement benefits.
CalFresh customers can report food loss online at BenefitsCal.com, by calling 1-877-410-8827 or in person at nearest DPSS Self-Sufficiency Office.
“This fire has brought real challenges to our community—from evacuations to extended power outages,” said Allison Gonzalez, Assistant Director of the Self-Sufficiency Division at the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS). “If you lost food because of the Rosa fire, please reach out to us by Sept. 2 so we can help you recover.”
CalFresh is California’s largest food assistance program, helping eligible households purchase groceries at supermarkets, farmers markets, and online retailers such as Amazon and Walmart.
County residents not currently enrolled in CalFresh who need food assistance are encouraged to apply online, by phone, or in person at a local Self-Sufficiency office.
