UCLA's Response to Wildfire Threats: Maintaining Safety and Supporting the Community

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has been deeply affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County. While UCLA remained outside the evacuation zones, the university took proactive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of its students, faculty, and staff, while also extending support to those impacted by the fires.

UCLA's Proximity to the Palisades Fire

UCLA is located in close proximity to the Palisades Fire, but it was not in an evacuation zone. Despite this, the university remained vigilant and prepared to respond to any potential threats.

Initial Precautions and Voluntary Evacuation

Following the cancellation of classes one Wednesday, thousands of students voluntarily left their dorm buildings with backpacks and luggage. An estimated 5,000 students departed from the Hill, according to a written statement from Undergraduate Students Association Council President Adam Tfayli. Taeya Chavies, a first-year psychology student, said she originally did not realize the fire was a pressing matter until she looked outside her dorm window and saw the flames herself.

Resumption of In-Person Classes

UCLA resumed in-person classes one Tuesday amid improving weather forecasts and fire containment, university officials announced one Thursday. “Yesterday evening, the red flag warning that was in effect for our area was lifted, which means the current weather conditions have shifted in our favor,” UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk said in an online announcement. “We are optimistic about how things are trending: emergency responders are making progress in combating the fires, wind speed is diminishing and projections show continued safer air quality on campus.”

The university switched to remote classes one Thursday as a precaution after the Palisades fire could be seen from campus and mandatory evacuation and evacuation warning zones touched the UCLA border. The university was never under mandatory evacuation or in an evacuation warning zone. Administrators have also said that, while smoky conditions were briefly reported by students on campus in the middle of last week, air quality measured by five on-campus monitors has remained within safe levels. Still, the vast majority of the 22,000 on-campus students left late last week.

Frenk and administrators said that while they are confident the campus is ready to shift back to normal operations, they are still on alert. “Should conditions shift, we will revisit our plans,” Frenk said. “We are not letting our guard down. We will remain vigilant and communicate promptly with you with any important changes.”

Student Experiences and Concerns

Elliott Cho, a senior, said while moving out one Sunday that he was leaving because “it’s not safe to be here because of the air quality.” Several undergraduates on campus reported seeing ash around their dorm buildings and smoke inside residence halls early last week before conditions cleared up.

Ash Sundresh, a first-year computer science student who lives in India, said he was also struggling to come up with an evacuation plan. “I don’t know anybody who has left yet because we’re kind of stuck here,” Huang said.

Other students who live locally, such as fourth-year philosophy student Wonseo Jong, said they had safe places to evacuate if needed but were still worried about UCLA’s minimal communication regarding fire safety. “It’s so unpredictable with the information the county has given, and it makes it harder for the school to fully communicate with all the students,” Bell said.

Support for Displaced Individuals

UCLA is providing shelter for UCLA employees and others who have lost their homes to the fires, utilizing vacant faculty housing units, UCLA’s South Bay campus and the Luskin Conference Center.

Read also: Navigating Tech Breadth at UCLA

During virtual town halls this week, Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael J. Beck said that roughly 900 students remained on campus and that the university was ready to evacuate them if necessary - but that the prospect looked unlikely. Speaking in a university-wide town hall one Thursday, Beck said 1,240 off-campus students had been hit by evacuation warnings or mandatory evacuation orders after multiple wildfires broke out last week. About half of those students were no longer in either category. Beck also said that 3,367 staff and faculty members had been under mandatory evacuations or evacuation warnings. More than 2,000 remained in those zones as of one Wednesday.

FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at UCLA Research Park

A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center for Angelenos impacted by the fires has been set up at the UCLA Research Park (formerly the Westside Pavilion). The university has donated the use of its UCLA Research Park, the site of the former Westside Pavillion mall, to the federal government for FEMA use. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will temporarily operate the recovery center, which is offering aid to fire victims and evacuees to help them retrieve documents, file insurance claims and access federal assistance, social services, mental health and other needs.

The site is one of two FEMA disaster recovery centers in the region, with the other being at the Pasadena City College Community Education Center. The University of California purchased the property it is donating last year. It’s under development to convert its commercial spaces into research facilities. When completed, the site will house the California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy at UCLA and the UCLA Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, among other programs.

Mental Health Resources and Basic Needs Support

Undergraduate campuses are offering a range of mental health resources for all students, from community drop-in sessions and wellness activities to 1-1 counseling. Students who are experiencing distress can reach out to CAPS at 310-825-0768. Crisis counseling is available 24/7. Students can also access this comprehensive resource directory. UCLA’s Healthy Campus Initiative has provided the tips below on how you can take care of yourself and your family during this challenging time. Families and children dealing with the trauma of wildfires. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network and others have developed resources in English and Spanish for families, children and communities to navigate what they are seeing and hearing, acknowledge their feelings, and find ways to cope together.

Beyond mental health, students affected by the wildfires have a range of other urgent needs, from legal aid to housing, food and funds. All campuses have a Basic Needs Center where students can find help with food and shelter, and many also offer short-term emergency loans or emergency grant programs.

Read also: Understanding UCLA Counselors

Supporting the Wider Community

UCLA Health employees are working around the clock to treat patients at UCLA hospitals and clinics. UCLA’s hospitals are continuing to operate normally and treat patients. For updates on status, visit UCLA Health.

First responders from other UC campuses have traveled to Los Angeles County to join those on the front lines. The UC Davis Fire Department’s Brush Truck 34 left campus last week as part of a Yolo County strike team and is currently assisting with the battle against the Eaton Fire.

Students are also taking an active role in helping at a grassroots level. At UC San Diego, undergraduate student Evan Gervase started a GoFundMe with the goal of sending a quick infusion of cash to Los Angeles County animal shelters.

Animal Welfare Efforts

The California Veterinary Emergency Team (CVET) out of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine is on alert and ready to provide veterinary assistance if regional programs in Southern California aren’t able to care for all the animals injured in the fires.

At UC Davis, Rachel Herstik, a large animal technician at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, is leading a pet supply drive to help displaced animals in her hometown of Altadena. From horse blankets to leashes, collars, and dog and cat food, she has collected a U-haul’s worth of supplies to be distributed at evacuation centers and Pasadena Humane. In another UC Davis-based aid effort, Patrick Hardy is traveling to Los Angeles County to help the 107 beekeepers in the Palisades and surrounding evacuated areas.

Monitoring and Information Dissemination

The UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Fire Network, a collaboration of two dozen of California’s leading wildfire experts, has been providing public safety information through social media in the past week. UC San Diego’s ALERTCalifornia public safety program currently manages more than 1,140 cameras across the state. Emergency managers as well as the public are utilizing these cameras day and night to monitor the devastating fires around Los Angeles.

Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center

The Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center remains open. See days and hours of operation. Students unable to make a scheduled appointment can call 310-825-4073 or cancel/reschedule their appointment using your Patient Portal.

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