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  • Pacific Palisades Fire Response

    The Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) remains committed to protecting the health and safety of Los Angeles Unified students and staff. This page provides updates, reports, and resources related to the Palisades Fires of January 2025, supporting ongoing response, recovery, and preparedness efforts.

  • Palisades Charter High School

  • Palisades Charter Elementary School

  • Marquez Charter Elementary School

  • Historic Information

     

    Reopening of LAUSD Sites: 

    All seven Los Angeles Unified School District sites that were in close proximity to the Palisades fire were cleaned and inspected by environmental consultants before reopening. LAUSD Maintenance and Operations staff and specialized contractors undertook the cleaning, involving more than 200 workers. On return to school, masks will be available to students and staff should the need arise. 

    Exteriors

    • Inspection and cleaning of all playground equipment was conducted.
    • Washing of all rubber and playground surfaces.
    • All high-touch surfaces were cleaned.
    • All landscaping was hosed down. 

    School Interiors

    • Interiors sustained some light particulate settlement (ash, soot) in these schools, but as a precaution, exposed horizontal surfaces were wet-wiped or wet-mopped to ensure any surface particulate was addressed.
    • Soft surfaces such as rugs and carpets were HEPA-vacuumed. Again, very little amounts of ash were present following the fire but this step was taken in an abundance of caution.
    • Areas cleaned: floors, walls, tops of furniture, tops of fixtures, architectural ledges, wall panels and other items displaying signs of particulate settlement and those that did not.
    • All HVAC systems were inspected and all MERV13 filters were replaced. 
    • In addition to the enhanced HVAC filtration, HEPA air purifiers have been placed in all classrooms and common areas. 

    Process

    • All work was performed following guidelines for schools experiencing wildfires published by:
      • California Department of Education
      • California Environmental Protection Agency
      • California Department of Emergency Services
      • Los Angeles County Public Health Department
      • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    • LA Unified has consulted with our public health agencies and met with officials from the California Office of Emergency Services, the California Department of Education, to share our efforts to safely reopen schools. 

    Post-Cleaning Evaluation

    • Sites were inspected by LA Unified’s Office of Environmental Health & Safety and by third-party environmental consultants before being cleared for reopening, with additional cleaning as needed.