California schools destroyed by Palisades fire
A spokesperson for Los Angeles Unified confirmed to Fox News Digital that Palisades Charter High School, Palisades Charter Elementary School and Marquez Elementary School suffered significant damage in the Palisades Fire. (Image source: Fox 11)
As schools begin to reopen in wildfire-affected areas of Los Angeles, parents are concerned that toxic ash can be harmful to their children.
Kelli Ferrone’s daughter’s school, Canyon Charter Elementary, could start school as soon as Monday. But after personally cleaning up the campus just half a mile from the devastating Palisades Fire, Ferrone told The Associated Press she would rather relocate temporarily than reopen quickly.
“The (Los Angeles Unified School District) has never experienced a disaster like this in its history,” Ferrone told The Associated Press. “I do think people are trying really hard, but our schools need a new temporary home with classrooms and The only thing that makes people feel comfortable is having the teacher teach in person.”
Ash is a toxic soup that incinerates cars, electronics, batteries, building materials, paint, furniture, and various other personal belongings. Volcanic ash contains pesticides, asbestos, plastic and lead, to which children are more susceptible, but scientists still don’t know the long-term health effects of exposure.
Rainfall in California helps firefighters battle wildfires, but also risks toxic ash runoff
Kelli Ferrone walks into a makeshift school with her daughter as they wait to attend Canyon Charter Elementary School affected by smoke and ash from the Palisades Fire on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. Elementary School) reopened. (Brittany Peterson)
Canyon Charter Elementary School remains closed Wednesday, January 22, 2025, in Santa Monica, California, due to a nearby wildfire. (Brittany Peterson)
“Children often have more hand-to-mouth behaviors, and their bodies are growing rapidly in their first few years, so they are more sensitive to this type of contamination,” said Dr. Lisa Patel, a pediatrician and executive director of the medical center. Climate and Health Association told The Associated Press. “The risk of exposure is going to be there for some time.”
“All seven Los Angeles Unified School District sites located near the Palisades Fire have been cleaned and inspected by environmental consultants prior to reopening,” an update from the school district said.
Los Angeles County school district announces closure due to fire; at least 3 buildings suffered ‘significant damage’
On January 15, 2025, a jungle gym at a school in Altadena, California, was melted and destroyed by the Eaton Fire. (John Locher, Archives)
The Los Angeles Unified School District said the work was “conducted in compliance with guidance for schools experiencing wildfires” issued by the California Department of Education, California Environmental Protection Agency, California Department of Emergency Services, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
While some are working to address safety concerns in schools that remain, others have no school to return to.
Smoke from the Hughes Fire rises over Castaic, California on January 22, 2025. (Ethan Swope, archives)
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“The community is gone, my son’s school is gone, my son’s mom’s house burned down,” “Guardians of the Galaxy” star Chris Pratt shared on social media. Pratt has 12-year-old son Jack with ex-wife Anna Faris.
Fox News’ Stephanie Giang-Paunon and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
