Students Flee UCLA Campus Next to Palisades Fire Evacuation Zone
UCLA’s 46,000-Student Campus on Edge Amid Poor Air Quality and Online Classes
The 46,000-student UCLA campus, adjacent to the Palisades fire evacuation zones, is on edge and has all but emptied out amid poor air quality and a university decision to move classes online this week.
UCLA Officials Reassure Students of Safety
UCLA officials said Sunday there is no immediate danger to the Westwood campus. However, when the fire pushed towards Brentwood, the university sent out notices putting students on high alert, advising them to “stay vigilant and ready to evacuate” if conditions changed. Chancellor Julio Frenk, who took the helm this month, has been sharing video statements on Instagram and X to encourage the UCLA community to be resilient.
UCLA’s Evacuation Plan
UCLA has developed a plan to bus students off-site, about 14,000 of whom live on campus, if fire authorities issue a mandatory evacuation order. However, many students had already made their own decisions to leave.
Students Fleeing the Campus
The usually boisterous Dickson Court next to Royce Hall was empty except for a few tourists and neighborhood residents walking their dogs. Most dining halls were closed. “The Hill,” the northwest region of campus where dorms are concentrated, was largely silent in the second week of the spring quarter, aside from the sound of students scrambling to leave.
Students Share Their Experiences
UCLA senior Elliott Cho, who was moving out of his dormitory, said, “It’s not safe to be here because of the air quality.” Titi Olotu, a second-year biology major, initially left campus amid smoky conditions but returned to grab her passport and other personal documents. “I’m probably one of the last to officially leave,” she said.
International Students and Resident Assistants Stay Behind
The few students left on campus tended to be resident assistants and international students whose families were far away. Tommy Contreras, a third-year student majoring in political science and public affairs, decided to stay put due to his responsibilities as a resident assistant and representative in the Undergraduate Students Assn. “It’s a ghost town,” he said, estimating about 10 students were left in his part of the residential hall.
Students’ Concerns and Fears
Evan Li, a senior majoring in computer science and applied mathematics, said, “I don’t think the fire is a threat to us, and home is far away if I tried to go there now.” His family is in Toronto. Matthew Li, a senior majoring in neuroscience, said his mother in Sacramento had called him to discuss possibly coming home, but he thought the danger wasn’t immediate.
UCLA’s Response and Plans
In a statement, the university administration said, “The safety and well-being of all Bruins remains our top priority” and that its Office of Emergency Management had “identified several suitable locations” for potential evacuees. The university has surveyed all students in university-owned housing and in the Westwood area and stands ready to transport and house any students who indicated they need temporary housing.
FAQs
* What is UCLA’s evacuation plan?
UCLA has developed a plan to bus students off-site if fire authorities issue a mandatory evacuation order.
* Where would students land if evacuated?
UCLA has not disclosed where students would land if evacuated.
* What would be provided to students in evacuation?
In the event of an evacuation, international students, and any students or employees who need housing, will be given shelter, food, supplies, and Wi-Fi at an off-site location, free of charge.
