California school devastated by Palisade fire
A Los Angeles Unified spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital that Palisades Charter High School, Palisades Charter Elementary School, and Marquez Elementary School sustained significant damage from the Palisades fire. (Credit: Fox11)
Wildfires impact Los Angeles area As schools begin to reopen, parents are concerned about toxic ash being harmful to children.
Kelly Ferrone's daughter's school, Canyon Charter Elementary School, was able to open immediately on Monday. But after cleaning up the campus, which is just a half-mile from the devastating Palisade fire, Ferrone told The Associated Press that he would rather be told to temporarily relocate rather than reopen immediately.
“(Los Angeles Unified School District) has never experienced a disaster like this in their history,” Ferrone told the AP. “And I think people are trying really hard, but our schools need new temporary homes for classrooms and teachers to teach in-person. That's the only thing that will make people feel comfortable. is.”
Ash is a toxic soup of incineration vehicles, electronics, batteries, building materials, paint, furniture, and all other types of personal belongings. Ash contains pesticides, asbestos, plastics and lead, making all children more vulnerable, but scientists still don't know the long-term health effects of exposure.
California rain helps firefighters respond to wildfires, but presents risk of toxic ash spill
Kelly Ferrone walks her daughter to a temporary school on Friday, January 24, 2025 in Los Angeles. Canyon Charter Elementary School is waiting to reopen after being affected by smoke and ash from the Palisade Fire. (Brittany Peterson)
Canyon Charter Elementary School remains closed following a nearby wildfire, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Santa Monica, California. (Brittany Peterson)
“Children often have more hand-to-mouth behavior, and their bodies are growing rapidly in these first years, so they can be more susceptible to this type of contamination.” The Social Consortium on Health told The Associated Press. “There will be some risk from an exposure standpoint for some time.”
“All seven Los Angeles Unified School District sites in close proximity to the Palisade fire were cleaned and inspected by environmental consultants prior to reopening.” school district Said.
LA County School District announces fire-related closures. At least three buildings sustain 'significant damage'
A jungle gym that was melted and destroyed by the Eaton Fire is seen at a school in Altadena, California, on January 15, 2025. (John Locher, File)
The work was “conducted in accordance with guidelines for schools experiencing wildfires published by the California Department of Education, the California Environmental Protection Agency, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,” Lausd said. states.
Some are grappling with the safety of schools that are still standing, while others have no schools to return to.
On January 22, 2025, smoke is rising in Custatic, California, caused by the Hughes Fire. (Ethan Swope, File)
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“My community is gone, my son's school is gone, his mom's house is burnt down,” “Guardians of the Galaxy” star Chris Pratt shared on social media. Pratt and his ex-wife, Anna Faris, share a 12-year-old son, Jack.
Fox News' Stephanie Giang-Paunon and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
