Campus Alert Archive
LAPC

Pierce College's 426-Acre Farm Campus Became Woolsey Fire's Largest Animal Shelter While Classes Were Canceled and Students Volunteered

CAwildfireemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

On November 9, 2018, the Woolsey Fire erupted in Ventura County and raced toward the San Fernando Valley, forcing Los Angeles Pierce College to cancel all classes and activities for two days as a precautionary measure. Simultaneously, the college's 426-acre working farm became one of the largest animal evacuation centers in the region, sheltering horses, livestock, and small animals from communities under mandatory evacuation. More than 250 Pierce College faculty, staff, and students volunteered at the shelter -- an experience LACCD later cited as among the most community-defining moments in the college's history.

Alerts
3
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
Los Angeles Pierce College
Community College · CA
~23,000 studentsLACCD Alert / Rave Mobile Safety
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Approximate reconstruction452 chars
LACCD Alert: Due to the Woolsey Fire and resulting air quality and safety conditions, Los Angeles Pierce College is CLOSED today, Friday, November 9, 2018. All classes, events, and activities are canceled. The Pierce College campus at 6201 Winnetka Ave, Woodland Hills, is serving as an evacuation shelter. If you are under evacuation order, follow all emergency management instructions immediately. Monitor laccd.edu and piercecollege.edu for updates.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Pierce College is located in Woodland Hills, in the western San Fernando Valley, approximately 7 miles from Calabasas where the Woolsey Fire burned with greatest intensity
The campus was closed as a precautionary measure due to fire proximity and smoke conditions; it was not under a mandatory evacuation order
The college's 426-acre agricultural/farm property made it uniquely suited as a large-animal evacuation center
UPDATEEmail
Approximate reconstruction409 chars
LACCD Alert Update: Los Angeles Pierce College will also be CLOSED on Monday, November 12, 2018. The animal evacuation center at 7100 El Rancho Drive on the Pierce College farm has reached capacity for large animals. Thank you to the 250+ faculty, staff, and students who have volunteered. Continue to monitor piercecollege.edu for reopening information. Air quality and safety conditions are being monitored.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The December 2018 LACCD Chancellor's Monthly Report documented the closure period and the 250+ volunteer response as a highlight of community engagement
The animal shelter at 7100 El Rancho Drive (Pierce College's farm address) reached capacity, requiring Los Angeles County Animal Services to direct additional animals to other facilities
The closure extension through Monday November 12 reflects both continuing fire conditions and the logistical demands of operating a major animal shelter on campus
ALL CLEAREmail
Approximate reconstruction378 chars
Pierce College Status: Classes resume Tuesday, November 13, 2018. Air quality and safety conditions have improved sufficiently for campus reopening. The campus continues to support community recovery efforts. Faculty, staff, and students who volunteered at the evacuation center: thank you. Your service represents the best of Pierce. Contact your instructors with any concerns.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Pierce College was closed November 9, 10, and 12 (Veterans Day on November 12 was already a holiday; the college was closed on that Monday as well)
The Woolsey Fire was not fully contained until November 21, 2018; reopening was based on local air quality and safety assessment rather than full fire containment
Faculty were directed to contact students about any make-up work for the missed class days
Context

Background

The Woolsey Fire ignited in Ventura County on November 8, 2018, and raced southward and eastward toward Malibu and the western San Fernando Valley. Los Angeles Pierce College, a community college in Woodland Hills with a 426-acre agricultural campus, closed November 9-10 (and through the Veterans Day weekend) as the fire approached. But the closure was only part of the story: LACCD and Pierce College simultaneously activated the campus's farm as one of the largest animal evacuation shelters in the region, accepting horses, livestock, exotic animals, and household pets from communities under mandatory evacuation orders across Calabasas, Agoura Hills, and surrounding areas. The shelter reached capacity, as reported by the Red Cross and Los Angeles County Animal Services. More than 250 Pierce College faculty, staff, and students volunteered to run the shelter -- an extraordinary community response that LACCD's Chancellor cited in the December 2018 Monthly Report as among the proudest moments in the college's history. The Woolsey Fire ultimately burned 96,949 acres, destroyed 1,643 structures, and killed 3 people, devastating Malibu and surrounding communities. Pierce College's dual response -- protecting its own students via campus closure while mobilizing its farm campus as a community emergency resource -- illustrates how a California community college's unique physical assets can define its disaster role.
Analysis

Key Findings

Pierce College's 426-acre working farm became one of the region's largest animal evacuation shelters during the Woolsey Fire -- a role only possible because of the college's unique agricultural campus
More than 250 Pierce College faculty, staff, and students volunteered to operate the shelter, a response LACCD's Chancellor later cited as a defining moment for the college
The campus served a dual emergency function: its buildings were closed to protect students from fire and smoke, while the farm was opened to support community disaster response
The animal shelter reached capacity, illustrating the scale of the evacuation and the need for additional regional shelter planning
Outcome
No Pierce College students or staff killed. Campus closed for two days (November 9-10). Animal evacuation center operated at 7100 El Rancho Drive, Woodland Hills, reaching capacity. Over 250 faculty, staff, and students volunteered. Classes resumed November 13 after air quality and safety assessment. Woolsey Fire ultimately burned 96,949 acres, destroyed 1,643 structures, and killed 3 people.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Official
    Pierce College Status and Emergency Resources for Local Fires - LAPC
    lapc.edu
  2. Student Paper
    Woolsey Fire Evacuees Find Safety at Pierce College - The Corsair (LAPC student newspaper)
    thecorsaironline.com
  3. Official
    Red Cross Opens 8 Evacuation Shelters In Response To Woolsey and Hill Wildfires - American Red Cross
    redcross.org
  4. Official
    December 2018 Chancellor's Monthly Report - LACCD
    laccd.edu
  5. Source
    Woolsey Fire - Wikipedia
    en.wikipedia.org
Tags
wildfirewoolsey-firecaliforniasan-fernando-valleywoodland-hillscommunity-collegeanimal-evacuationvolunteer-responseagricultural-campus2018
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion