Wildfire, January 7, 2025

Update on Campus Operations January 8, 2025, 12 p.m. The health and safety of our community is a priority. Caltech emergency response personnel, in conjunction with Pasadena Fire and local authorities, are actively monitoring the Eaton Fire and windstorm, and this message is meant to provide an update on the situation: Caltech Security and Facilities personnel continue to patrol the campus to assess damage, identify safety concerns, and to conduct clean-up of the campus from the windstorm. The campus is not under direct threat from the fires, the closest of which is the Eaton Fire burning in the foothill communities to the north of the 210. That said, air quality on campus and in the surrounding region is poor and we advise that individuals wear a high-quality mask when outdoors. Protective eye wear may be advisable, if available. The campus remains closed except for critical functions, which include the operations of student housing and dining, custodial and grounds, security, and facilities and lab management. If you do not need to be outdoors on campus to support one of these functions, we ask that you remain off campus or indoors for your safety and for the safety of our campus personnel who are responding to the event. We ask for your continued patience, as this emerging situation continues to affect not just our campus, but the staff and faculty, and neighbors across the region. Below is some important information on campus operations: Housing All campus residents are asked to remain indoors, to wear a mask, keep devices charged, and report any issues or concerns to Caltech Security at 626-395-5000. As of this morning, access to power, internet, and other utilities remains uninterrupted. If that changes, you will be notified via Everbridge. If you are a student who lives off-campus in the region and you have an evacuation concern, please contact your respective deans' office (Undergraduate Office: 626-395-6341; Graduate Office: 626-395-6346). Employees who have been impacted by the fires or need help, can call Human Resources at 626-395-6443 or 626-395-6382. The City of Pasadena has set up the Pasadena Convention Center (300 E. Green Street) as evacuation site for the region. Dining In response to current events, Caltech Dining has consolidated its operations and dining locations for Wednesday, January 8. Food is available to students on campus in the following locations: Browne Cafe will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Open kitchen will be available students in their Houses as usual. Red Door, Broad Cafe, and Avery will be closed. Classes Caltech classes have been canceled for today, January 8. A decision will be made later today about classes for tomorrow. We will provide an update when we have it. Travel If you do choose to travel out of the area or are on the local roadways, please proceed with caution and follow all instructions from local emergency personnel and highway safety. Trees and power lines may still be down from last night's windstorm. Gather essential items (such as medications, IDs, and passports) and travel away from impacted communities. Mental Health and Safety Students who are experiencing anxiety or stress related to the fire may contact Student Counseling Services for consultation and support by calling 626-395-8331. Staff, faculty, and postdoctoral scholars can access counseling resources through the Staff and Faculty Consultation center by calling 626-395-8360 or email sfcc@caltech.edu. Should you have an emergency or concern about your safety or well-being, please contact Caltech Security at 626-395-5000.

Classes will resume on Monday, January 13. Resuming campus operations, which have been restricted to critical and essential functions only since the windstorm and resulting fires erupted on Tuesday evening, comes as the campus has been cleared of debris and hazards. Staff members have worked heroically to prepare the campus to resume fully its mission of research and education. The region's historic fires, which continue to burn for the third day, pose no direct threat to campus. The shift in operations also allows members of the Caltech community who have been without power, water, Internet, and other resources this week to more readily access such services on campus. Caltech has been fortunate in that utility services have mostly remained uninterrupted and reliable throughout the fires. Hundreds of Caltech's staff, faculty, postdoctoral scholars and students have been impacted by mandatory evacuation orders and long-term power outages. Initial reports indicate that dozens of Caltech community members may have lost their homes and personal belongings. The Institute continues to mobilize resources and services to support those in need. We will provide additional information in the coming days and weeks on ways in which community members can access requested resources and others can support their colleagues. Managers and supervisors are asked to continue to work with their direct reports to provide as much flexibility as possible in working arrangements on Friday. What the campus reopening means: Campus buildings will reopen Friday and be accessible without keycards during normal campus business hours. Individuals who have lost or misplaced their ID cards may request a replacement by emailing cardoffice@caltech.edu ; the cards will be ready for pick up Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Card Office, located on the first floor of the Center for Student Services. Dining services will operate in a more traditional manner: The Red Door Café will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for drinks, baked goods and CStore. And 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. for regular service to students. Browne Dining Hall will be open 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for breakfast and lunch; and 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for dinner. Undergraduate students on meal plans will also have access to Open Kitchen in their houses and dinner at Browne. The Broad Café and Avery Ramen remain closed. As air quality on campus continues to be impacted by the fires, the ventilation systems of campus buildings have been configured to limit the circulation of outside air indoors and air purifiers have been distributed and activated in buildings across the campus. Additionally, the Institute is providing free, high-quality masks to Caltech community members and encourages the use of masks outdoors. Masks may be picked up on Friday at Browne Dining Hall. Updates on the fires, campus operations, and recovery resources will be shared as available. REVISED Water Advisory, Jan. 9 at 10:44 a.m.: Pasadena City and Pasadena Water and Power Officials have confirmed this morning that the tap water on the Caltech campus is safe to drink and cook with; it has not been impacted by the Eaton Fire. For your awareness, a map of the affected areas is posted on the City of Pasadena's website. For members of our community who need it, bottled water is available for pick up in a limited capacity at Browne Dining Hall. Update from Jan. 8 at 12 p.m.: The health and safety of our community is a priority. Caltech emergency response personnel, in conjunction with Pasadena Fire and local authorities, are actively monitoring the Eaton Fire and windstorm, and this message is meant to provide an update on the situation: Caltech Security and Facilities personnel continue to patrol the campus to assess damage, identify safety concerns, and to conduct clean-up of the campus from the windstorm. The campus is not under direct threat from the fires, the closest of which is the Eaton Fire burning in the foothill communities to the north of the 210. That said, air quality on campus and in the surrounding region is poor and we advise that individuals wear a high-quality mask when outdoors. Protective eye wear may be advisable, if available. The campus remains closed except for critical functions, which include the operations of student housing and dining, custodial and grounds, security, and facilities and lab management. If you do not need to be outdoors on campus to support one of these functions, we ask that you remain off campus or indoors for your safety and for the safety of our campus personnel who are responding to the event. We ask for your continued patience, as this emerging situation continues to affect not just our campus, but the staff and faculty, and neighbors across the region. Below is some important information on campus operations: Housing All campus residents are asked to remain indoors, to wear a mask, keep devices charged, and report any issues or concerns to Caltech Security at 626-395-5000. As of this morning, access to power, internet, and other utilities remains uninterrupted. If that changes, you will be notified via Everbridge. If you are a student who lives off-campus in the region and you have an evacuation concern, please contact your respective deans' office (Undergraduate Office: 626-395-6341; Graduate Office: 626-395-6346). Employees who have been impacted by the fires or need help, can call Human Resources at 626-395-6443 or 626-395-6382. The City of Pasadena has set up the Pasadena Convention Center (300 E. Green Street) as evacuation site for the region. Dining In response to current events, Caltech Dining has consolidated its operations and dining locations for Wednesday, January 8. Food is available to students on campus in the following locations: Browne Cafe will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Open kitchen will be available students in their Houses as usual. Red Door, Broad Cafe, and Avery will be closed. Classes Caltech classes have been canceled for today, January 8. A decision will be made later today about classes for tomorrow. We will provide an update when we have it. Travel If you do choose to travel out of the area or are on the local roadways, please proceed with caution and follow all instructions from local emergency personnel and highway safety. Trees and power lines may still be down from last night's windstorm. Gather essential items (such as medications, IDs, and passports) and travel away from impacted communities. Mental Health and Safety Students who are experiencing anxiety or stress related to the fire may contact Student Counseling Services for consultation and support by calling 626-395-8331. Staff, faculty, and postdoctoral scholars can access counseling resources through the Staff and Faculty Consultation center by calling 626-395-8360 or email sfcc@caltech.edu . Should you have an emergency or concern about your safety or well-being, please contact Caltech Security at 626-395-5000.