LA County school districts announce fire-related closures; 3 buildings sustain damage
California schools have been destroyed by the Palisades Fire
A spokesperson for Los Angeles Unified confirmed to Fox News Digital that Palisades Charter High School, Palisades Charter Elementary School, and Marquez Elementary School sustained significant damage in the Palisades fire. (Credit: FOX 11)
Wildfires raging across Los Angeles County have forced the city’s schools to close, with at least three buildings in Pacific Palisades sustaining “significant damage” from the blaze.
A spokesman for the largest school district in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Unified Schools (LAUSD), confirmed to Fox News Digital that at least three schools were damaged by the fire.
“Palisades Charter High School, Palisades Charter Elementary School, and Marquez Elementary School suffered significant damage from the Palisades fire,” said the spokesman.
The school district said it is working closely with authorities and emergency services to assess the situation and determine next steps to minimize the disruption to student learning.
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Palisades Charter Elementary School is burning amid the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County. (IFX 11)
Footage from Fox News affiliate KTTV shows Palisades Charter Elementary School engulfed in flames.
In all, at least 24 school districts have announced full or partial closures, according to the LA County Office of Education.
A firefighter opens the door to a burning auditorium inside Eliot Arts Magnet Middle School during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles County, Wednesday. (Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images)
Alhambra Unified Superintendent Denise Jaramillo he wrote in a statement on Wednesday that district employees need more time to inspect schools for safety. This district is located in the western part of the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles County.
“While our campuses have performed well so far, air quality is expected to remain low due to high levels of airborne dust and smoke from the wildfires,” Jaramillio wrote.
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The statement added: “A large number of our staff are currently under evacuation orders, which will impact school operations and staffing levels.”
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Many others are in the south California school districts have announced closures through Friday.
Burbank Unified School District, Glendale Unified School District, La Canada Unified and Pasadena Unified School District will remain closed until Friday, the LA County school district announced.
LAUSD said it will continue to assess the situation and make a decision on Friday classes on Thursday.
Palisades Charter High School is on fire. (IFX 11)
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Resources
- Academic support for students: LAUSD’s Continuity of study program.
- Mental health: Learning and Family Life Resource Line, 213-241-3840, from 7am to 6pm Monday through Friday.
