Southern California experienced multiple wildfires during the early part of December, resulting in an estimated combined total of nearly 200,000 acres burned, 260,000 people evacuated, and more than 22,000 homes and businesses threatened, damaged or destroyed (as of Dec. 22).
On Wednesday, Dec. 6, just before 5 a.m., the Skirball Brush Fire broke out in Bel-Air near the Northbound 405 Freeway and Mulholland Drive, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. This video shows how it looked for drivers on the Southbound 405 when the fire first began. It spread quickly, destroying six homes and damaging other structures, forcing mandatory evacuations, closing streets, and affecting thousands of daily commuters.
The Skirball Brush Fire was less than five miles away from UCLA, affecting the nearly 45,000 students attending and about 59,000 campus commuters. Although the university was never in critical danger, several buildings on the Hill, Rieber Hall, Bruin Café, Canyon Point, and Sproul Hall experienced power outages unrelated to the brush fire, including some apartment buildings in North Village, according to Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Due to heavy smoke and unhealthy air quality, UCLA made the decision to cancel Wednesday afternoon classes, and advised students, faculty and staff to not come to campus.
With the 405 Freeway and Sepulveda Blvd. closed in both directions for most of the day, many UCLA commuters on their way to campus were stuck in difficult traffic conditions, doubling, even tripling their normal commute time. Students preparing their schedules for finals week were advised to check in with their instructors and their departments on making up class time and work. Throughout the day, periodic Bruin Alerts were sent via text or email to the Bruin community with updates about the fire as it related to UCLA. Chancellor Gene Block also sent a critical update to the campus community while the situation was unfolding.
That evening, the UCLA Men’s Basketball team was scheduled to take on the Montana Grizzlies at 8 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion, but instead, the game was canceled along with other team workouts and scheduled practices.
Although the uncertainty of another brush fire occurrence was still unknown given the unpredictable weather activity and high winds, UCLA made the decision to cancel classes on Thursday, Dec 7. Classes and regular campus activities resumed on Friday, Dec 8.
The Los Angeles Fire Department released a statement saying the fire was sparked by an illegal cooking fire at an encampment in a brush area adjacent to where Sepulveda Boulevard crosses under the 405 Freeway.
The UCLA Alumni Association also sent out this message to alumni living in regions affected by the wildfires.
In gratitude to the LAFD and LAPD heroes fighting the Skirball Fire, on Dec. 7 UCLA provided roughly 300 free meals to the command center at Jackie Robinson Stadium, plus coffee, pastries and access to showers at UCLA’s Wooden Center.
In the event of a future emergency on or off campus, UCLA encourages all students, faculty and staff to follow UCLA Newsroom and Bruins Safe Online for updates, reference materials and instructions.