SoCal fires prompt need for blood donors [Video]

The deadly firestorms assailing Southern California have led the American Red Cross to cancel several blood drives, resulting in a critical shortage of blood, plasma and platelet donations that Fremont fire officials are seeking to alleviate with the community’s help.

The Fremont Fire Department, in cooperation with the Red Cross, is hosting a community blood drive on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the FFD Administration building at 3300 Capitol Ave. in Fremont.

Anyone interested in donating to the drive is encouraged to schedule an appointment here.

Those who donate blood, plasma or platelets will be entered for a chance to win a getaway to Super Bowl LIX.

The backstory:

The first of more than 30 separate wildfires that scorched the Los Angeles area was sparked on Jan. 7. 

Spurred by extreme Santa Ana winds and exacerbated by drought conditions, the fires have killed at least 27 peopleand caused extreme destruction, particularly in …