On Tuesday, Jan. 7, a wildfire broke out in Pacific Palisades at 10:30 a.m. Driven by extreme winds reaching up to 100 mph, the fire quickly escalated, spreading across nearly 3,000 acres and continues to grow, according to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The Pacific Palisades fire forced the emergency evacuation of approximately 37,000 people and has directly impacted many members of the Harvard-Westlake and neighboring community.
In response to the growing crisis, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency. At 6:42 p.m., President Rick Commons and Head of School Laura Ross addressed the community through email.
“Out of concern for the safety of our school community and especially for those who we know have been affected by the ongoing wildfires,” the email said, “Harvard-Westlake will not hold classes tomorrow.”
The duration of the closure remains uncertain as the situation develops. Meanwhile Harvard-Westlake is offering support to affected families. The school urged community members to reach out.
“If your family has been directly impacted by the fires or if you need help in any way, please email [email protected] and someone from the school will contact you,” the email said. “Our counselors and deans will also check email regularly and will be available to you if their support is desired.”
