Campuses in the Los Angeles area were closed as fires spread

Some colleges and universities in Los Angeles The district closed its campuses Wednesday as multiple wildfires continued to rumble through the area, destroying homes and businesses.

The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has closed its Pasadena campus except for all non-essential operations and canceled classes due to the proximity. Eaton fire. School officials said the only people allowed in the building are essential staff, emergency responders and residents.

A spokesman for the California Institute of Technology said Fox Business Student residents are safe, have access to food, water, masks and emergency supplies, and have been asked to stay put and stay off the roads.

They added that air quality and the potential for flying debris are a major concern, so school officials advise anyone on campus to wear a high-quality mask and take necessary precautions. Power has been turned off on campus, and the school is conducting a full assessment of the campus for any damage.

California wildfires are burning across Los Angeles County, forcing thousands to evacuate their homes

The Palisades Fire forced Pepperdine University to close its Calabasas and Malibu campuses. As of 5:15 a.m. PT, the university said the fire had covered 2,900 acres and was still 3.5 miles east of the Malibu campus.

Pepperdine canceled law school exams for the day, moved on-campus classes to remote locations, and asked employees to work remotely, if possible.

Universal Studios Hollywood closes due to wildfires in California

Other schools Firefighters in the area were still working Wednesday afternoon, but were taking precautions in case the fires became a greater threat.

The University of Southern California (USC) said on its website that it was monitoring the situation and advised employees affected by the wildfires to reach out to their supervisors “for support and potential remote work options.”

A USC hotel worker told FOX Business that the facility was working directly with emergency housing at the university’s official hotel and was fully booked Wednesday with students and staff.

Get FOX Business on the go by clicking here

UCLA remained fully operational and unusually held in-person classes on Wednesday, saying none of the fires posed an immediate threat to the campus and that air quality remained normal.

However, UCLA also said on its website that the school was monitoring the situation and had operational teams on standby.