Some Southern Calif. colleges cancel class amid wildfires

As multiple wildfires rage in and around the Los Angeles metro area and scorch thousands of acres, many colleges and universities in the region are canceling events or classes, closing, or providing shelter.

Santa Monica College, Pasadena City College, Ventura College and Glendale Community College closed their campuses through the rest of the week while California Institute of Technology, Occidental College and others canceled classes Wednesday and Thursday. Most of the colleges are still on winter break, so many students aren’t on campus. Still, as firefighters struggling to contain the blazes and new fires starting in the region, Los Angeles area colleges are closely monitoring the situation.

Pepperdine University closed its Malibu campus, near where the Palisades fire destroyed more than 1,000 homes and businesses, to make way for emergency vehicles, and told employees to work remotely. The deadly Palisades fire has so far consumed more than 15,000 acres but, as of Wednesday evening, doesn’t pose a threat to the university.

Meanwhile, the University of Southern California canceled its spring event to welcome new students. The University of California, Los Angeles, said Wednesday evening that it would “curtail campus operations, cancel undergraduate classes and move graduate courses to remote instruction” through Friday.

“While there remains no immediate fire danger to our campus, given an expected change in wind patterns in the hours ahead, it is likely that the air quality in Westwood will worsen,” UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk wrote to the campus community.

UCLA and other colleges in the region are providing free meals to the community and housing evacuees. Pierce College in Woodland Hills is serving as a shelter for large animals. 

Campuses in the Los Angeles Community College District remained open while California State University, Los Angeles moved classes online and restricted access to campus through the weekend.

“Our hearts go out to all of those impacted by the devastating wildfires currently ravaging Southern California, including students, faculty, staff and other members of the California State University community,” Cal State system Chancellor Mildred García said in a statement.”At the CSU system office and across our Southern California university campuses, we are closely monitoring the situation and are in regular communication with our students and employees to ensure their safety and well-being and to make them aware of the resources available to them.”