As the Southern California windstorm and the Eaton Canyon Fire continue to impact Pasadena and the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley, Arcadia Unified School District (AUSD) has announced that all schools will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 8, to prioritize “the safety and wellbeing of students, families, and staff.”
In an email sent to all staff, Arcadia Unified Chief Communications Officer Ryan Foran noted that severe weather conditions have already impacted parts of Arcadia High School and extended wishes for safety to all Arcadia staff and families. The National Weather Service has alerted for high fire risk and power outages, stating that this event “will likely be the most destructive windstorm since the 2011 windstorm.”
As ongoing conditions may affect communications, AUSD encourages families to follow its Facebook page and check its district website for updates. It advises families to refrain from calling schools and “inundate phone lines that need to be clear for communications with local authorities.” The district has also suggested to utilize the resources below for information and alerts during the severe weather conditions:
- Edison – Safety Tips for High Wind Conditions
- Sign up for Nixle alerts that provide information and updates from local authorities
- 8 Tips to Prepare for Windstorms
- Edison – Sign up for Alerts and Public Safety Power Shutoff Info
- National Weather Service Alerts
Jan. 8 Update:
AUSD has sent another email to all families announcing that, due to the impact of the Eaton Fire, all schools will remain closed on Thursday, Jan. 9. The district has also activated its emergency hotline at (626) 821-1783 for urgent internet and communications issues.
The Eaton Fire has grown to over 10,000 acres, with 0% containment and two deaths reported as of the morning of Jan. 8. The City of Arcadia has declared a local State of Emergency; many Arcadia students and staff have been evacuated as a result of the mandatory Evacuation Order.
“I have a lot of friends who live in the Altadena and La Cañada area who have gotten close to losing their homes, as well as my aunt’s school that burned down,” said sophomore Sloan Olko in a text message after evacuating. “Honestly, I’m just praying for them because that’s all we can do right now.”
Jan. 9 Update:
All AUSD schools will remain closed on Friday, Jan. 10, according to an email notice sent by AUSD on Thursday morning. The closure extends to all school activities, including the originally scheduled Hoopcoming event, which has been moved to next Friday, Jan. 17.
Schools are tentatively scheduled to reopen on Monday, Jan. 13, with AUSD planning to provide an update on Sunday night, Jan. 12. However, uncertainty remains as air quality continues to worsen due to the windstorm and the Eaton fire.
The email stated that “many staff members have been greatly impacted by the fires, and are still evacuated or are taking care of family members.” It also requested that the community keep them in their thoughts during this challenging time.
While power has been restored to much of Arcadia as of Thursday, two campuses—Foothills Middle School and Highland Oaks Elementary School—are still without power, according to an email from Mr. Foran.
As of the early hours of Jan. 9, the Eaton Fire remains at 0% containment. The City of Arcadia has confirmed that its independent water system ensures the water remains safe for consumption, and no structural losses or damages have been reported.
