The 46,000-student UCLA campus, which borders the Palisades fire evacuation zone, has been largely empty due to poor air quality and the university’s decision to move classes online this week.
UCLA officials said Sunday there was no immediate danger to the Westwood campus. But as the fire approached Brentwood, the university issued a high alert notice to students, advising them to “remain alert and prepare to evacuate” if conditions changed.
Chancellor Julio Frenk, who took office this month, posted video statements on Instagram and X encouraging the UCLA community’s resilience.
“We continue to closely monitor the situation and have plans in place to respond to any situation that arises,” Frank posted on Instagram on Sunday. “At this time, there are no evacuation advisories or warnings in place for our campus, but I know that many of us are facing real challenges. There’s still a lot of concern. There’s a lot of concern about the air quality.”
UCLA has developed a plan to bus students (about 14,000 live on campus) off campus if fire officials issue a mandatory evacuation order.
On Sunday, many students seemed to have already made their plans.
Dixon Court, next to the normally bustling Lois Hall, was empty except for a few tourists and some neighborhood residents walking their dogs. Most restaurants were closed. “The Hill” on the northwest side of campus, where many dormitories are located, was mostly quiet during the second week of spring quarter, save for the sounds of students rushing off to school.
UCLA senior Elliot Cho will move out of his dorm on January 12, 2025. “It’s not safe to be here because of the air quality,” Cho said.
(Karlyn Steele/For the Times)
In the dormitory area near De Neve Drive, students stood on the street with packed luggage and bright yellow transportation carts, waiting for their parents, Lyft or Uber to take them to the airport, a friend’s house in Northern California or the state. I was waiting for you to take me outside. The scene was more like move-in or move-out day than the kickoff of winter quarter.
“Almost everyone is gone,” Titi Olotu said. With classes being held remotely until at least Friday, she grabbed her belongings and got in her car to head back to Sacramento.
Olotu initially left his Olympic Hall dormitory on Thursday, when the campus was smoky, and stayed with his aunt near East Los Angeles. She returned to campus on Sunday and picked up her passport and other personal documents.
“I’m probably the last one to officially retire,” said Olotu, a sophomore biology major. She went viral on TikTok on Wednesday, a day after the Palisades Fire (about 24,000 acres and 11% contained on Sunday) criticized UCLA for continuing to host on-campus classes.
“I wish we had done better overall,” Olotu said.
The few students who remained on campus tended to be resident assistants who worked in dormitories in exchange for free room, board, and other benefits, or international students whose families were far away.
In the Saxon Suites residence hall, Tommy Contreras decided to stay put, citing his responsibilities as a resident assistant and president of the Undergraduate Student Association.
January 12, 2025, UCLA River Court.
(Karlyn Steele/For the Times)
“This is a ghost town,” Contreras said, estimating that about 10 students were left behind Sunday out of the 120 students he and his colleagues supervised in their portion of the residence hall.
“At least a few thousand people left,” said Contreras, a third-year political science and public affairs major. He is working with student government representatives to collect relief donations for the charity Dream Center Foundation. “I was on campus and only saw one other person yesterday.”
Contreras said he could see the Palisades fire from his dorm late last week. He said he was relieved there were no flames in sight.
“We’re glad that UCLA is working with us. For example, masks are available at the dorm front desk, and the university is accommodating those of us who need to go to remote classes.” he said. “Still, it was tough. Some people had asthma and needed air purifiers. There were days when the floors were pitch black and ash was falling from the sky. But we at UCLA We are one community and we are getting through this together.”
Roommates Evan and Matthew Lee, who are not related and live in an apartment south of campus, have decided to stay there. On Sunday afternoon, they played a game of horses on a basketball court off De Neve Drive as nearby students hurried home.
“I don’t think fire is a threat to us,” said Evan Lee, a fourth-year student studying computer science and applied mathematics. “And if I wanted to go now, I’d be far away from home.” His family is in Toronto.
Matthew Lee, a senior professor of neuroscience, said his mother in Sacramento called him to discuss the possibility of returning home. But he said last-minute flights were too expensive and he didn’t think the danger was imminent.
“I think things will get back to normal pretty quickly,” Matthew Lee said.
In the event of a forced evacuation, UCLA has announced that Pauley Pavilion and Tipuana Apartments will serve as meeting points, from which the university will provide transportation to alternative housing. Communications include announcements via Bruin Alert.
UCLA has not said where students will land if they are evacuated.
Sophomore Reia Utsumi (left) and fourth-year student Ariel Tan are moving out of their dorms at UCLA.
(Karlyn Steele/For the Times)
University officials said in a statement to the Times that “the safety and well-being of all Bruins remains our top priority,” and that the Office of Emergency Management has “identified several suitable locations” for potential evacuees. We will decide on a specific location.” Based on student and administrative needs. ”
“We have inspected all students living in university-owned housing and in the Westwood area and are prepared to relocate and house any student who indicates a need for temporary housing,” the statement said.
“In the event of an evacuation, international students and students and staff in need of housing will be provided with off-site shelter, food, supplies and Wi-Fi free of charge,” the university website FAQ Said it.
