UCLA extends campus closure as wildfire death toll rises

The University of California, Los Angeles has extended its campus closure for another week as wildfires continue to ravage the city’s fringes.

At least 16 people are now known to have been killed by a series of blazes which have also forced the evacuation of more than 150,000 residents.

UCLA initially closed its campus on 9 and 10 January, with undergraduate classes cancelled and postgraduate tuition moved online.

In an update shared on 11 January, chancellor Julio Frenk said that the closure would be extended through the following week, to 17 January, with all teaching switching to remote mode.

Professor Frenk asked students for “continued flexibility and understanding as we all work through these difficult times”, and said that staff should continue to work from home if possible.

“Throughout all of this, I have been deeply moved by the unwavering kindness, empathy and support shown by our Bruin community. I want to thank you for these acts of compassion, which I have seen firsthand. We are seeing what happens when we all come together,” said Professor Frenk, who only joined UCLA at the start of this month.

The University of Southern California said that its spring semester would start as planned on 13 January, with in-person classes, stating that its campus is not near the wildfires.

The institution is monitoring air quality closely and has moved all student activities indoors, its update said.

“As we navigate these challenging circumstances, we are inspired by the caring and compassion we are seeing across the Trojan community…Together, we will fight on and overcome this, and embrace the term ahead with the promise and excitement we love at USC,” said president Carol Folt and colleagues.

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com