As fires ravage Los Angeles County, many residents are turning to faith to find comfort and strength.
Singer-songwriter John Mayer is among those praying about the fires, even though he readily admits that he’s typically not the praying kind.
Mayer described his turn to prayer in an X post on Thursday. He wrote about what it’s like to lose everything or nearly everything in a fire.
“Just behind the immeasurable loss of life is the loss of the proof of life,” he wrote, referencing things like family photos and class rings that “we keep to remind us that those we loved were here.”
He said that he’ll be praying for everyone who lost those kinds of priceless keepsakes.
“I don’t practice prayer but tonight I will say one for everyone who no longer has these items,” Mayer wrote. “May those who have lost so much find some semblance of hope and support from their family and friends.”
So far this week, wildfires in the Los Angeles area have killed at least 10 people and burned more than 35,000 acres. Officials estimate that around 10,000 buildings have been destroyed, according to The Washington Post.
Celebrities, including Billy Crystal, Mandy Moore and Paris Hilton, are among the thousands of Americans who have lost their homes to this tragedy, as the Deseret News previously reported.
As of early Friday morning, only one of the six major fires affecting Los Angeles this week was 100% contained, The Washington Post reported.
Faith groups are among the organizations offering support to fire victims.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Thursday that it is mobilizing resources, including volunteers, to help in California.