Growing up in California, we live with the knowledge that wildfires happen all over the state. We’ve seen and heard news and warnings enough to even grow a little numb to it. But with blazes popping up closer and closer to home all over SoCal, it’s a cold dose of reality: this is happening.

Hearing about the Los Angeles fires stirred a different kind of response from me. Instead of apathy, I felt deep sadness and the urge to act. It’s one of the worst wildfires in the history of LA, and it’s horrific seeing photos of entire neighborhoods burnt to the ground and imagining people escaping, dying, or trying to put out small flames while others loot homes, commit arson, or take selfies in front of the blazes.

The two types of people: those who take advantage, and those who try to help.

It sickens me that there are people out there who seek to gain from someone else’s deep loss or add to the chaos of a devastating situation. Some seem to think, “they’re rich, they can afford to buy new stuff” or “they’re not coming home anyway, I’m saving their stuff by breaking in.” This lack of empathy cuts deeper than the flames ever could. It’s a chilling reminder of how far humanity can stray from compassion for their own kind.

The world is burning, and I’m not just talking about the physical. It’s as though the fires are a reflection of a deeper problem within society: a loss of connection, of shared humanity.

As I teach my students about character traits like fairness, respect, kindness, and honesty, the world outside the classroom often seems to contradict everything I’m trying to instill in them. Fear, violence, and aggression dominate the headlines and spreads instantly. The United States feels more divided than ever, and every day, it’s a struggle to hold on to hope.

Maybe it’s always been this way. Maybe the ugliness has always been there, but it’s more visible now, amplified by our interconnected lives. Or maybe we’ve become so accustomed to it that we’ve stopped fighting against it. Stories of Good Samaritans and moments of hope still exist, but they feel like whispers in a world that’s screaming its worst.

It’s hard to keep faith. It’s hard to remember there are good people in the world. It’s hard to remember why we keep going and living this life. But we do. We keep moving forward, step by step, because to stop—to give in to despair—would mean letting the fire win.

So, here’s the challenge: Be a helper. Be a role model. Be a moral human being. Don’t just stand by and watch as the world burns around you. It doesn’t have to be about values or politics or religion. It’s about humanity. How beautiful would it be if we could all do our best to be a positive light to others instead of letting our own pride, ambition, or greed get in the way?

We all have a choice. We can fan the flames of division and destruction, or we can help extinguish them with acts of kindness, courage, and love. It doesn’t take much to make a difference. It can start small: offering a hand to someone in need, speaking up for what’s right, or simply choosing to show compassion to those around us.

We’re not powerless in the face of these fires—both literal and metaphorical. Every action we take matters. Every step forward, no matter how small, moves us closer to the world we want to live in. Let’s keep moving, together. Let’s be the helpers, the healers, the ones who refuse to let the fire consume us. Because as long as we’re still here, there’s still hope.