Campus Alert Archive
LMU

'LMU Is Not Currently Impacted': The 2:10 PM Campus Advisory From the Bluff as the Palisades Fire Took Off Six Miles Away

CAwildfireadvisoryhigh confidence
Confirmed Threat

At 2:10 PM PST on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, LMU Communications sent a campus advisory about the Palisades Fire that had ignited at approximately 10:30 AM that morning in the Santa Monica Mountains — about 6 miles north of LMU's Westchester campus on Loyola Marymount's bluff above Playa Vista. The advisory framed the message in deliberately measured terms: LMU was 'not currently impacted, and all campus operations are normal.' Over the next six days, LMU issued a cascade of follow-up advisories as the fire ultimately destroyed thousands of structures in Pacific Palisades and Malibu — though LMU's three campuses (Westchester, Playa Vista, Loyola Law) remained outside the impact zone.

Alerts
3
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
Loyola Marymount University
Private R2 · CA
~10,000 studentsRaveLMU Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

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
Verified verbatimLMU Newsroom Campus Advisory page that quoted the verbatim email sent by LMU Communications at 2:10 PM PST on January 7, 2025421 chars
Campus Advisory: Fire in Pacific Palisades — LMU Communications is aware of the rapidly growing fire in the Pacific Palisades. LMU is not currently impacted, and all campus operations are normal. LMU stands ready to support affected members of our community, and has resources and services available to support impacted students, staff and faculty. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed.
Sent at 2:10 PM PST on January 7, 2025 — approximately 3 hours 40 minutes after the Palisades Fire ignited at approximately 10:30 AM in the Santa Monica Mountains
The Palisades Fire ultimately destroyed more than 6,800 structures and killed at least 12 people, but LMU's three campuses (Westchester, Playa Vista, Loyola Law) all sit at least 6 miles south or southeast of the fire perimeter
The advisory framing — 'not currently impacted' rather than 'safe' — kept LMU's communicative options open as conditions evolved during the historic Santa Ana wind event
UPDATEEmail
Approximate reconstructionReconstructed from LMU Newsroom's January 9, 2025 morning advisory describing the planned return to in-person operations on January 10 and the on-campus mask distribution478 chars
California Wildfire Update — Faculty and staff will resume regular in-person schedules on Friday, January 10. Please consult with your supervisor if you are experiencing extenuating circumstances or require special accommodations. Students remain scheduled to return to campus as planned before classes begin on Monday, January 13. Surgical and N95 face masks are available in all residence halls, the Foley Annex, Malone 301, and University Hall 1900 on the Westchester Campus.

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

Issued Thursday morning, January 9, 2025 — two days into the Palisades Fire and approximately one day after the Eaton Fire ignited in Altadena
The detailed mask-distribution list (specific buildings and rooms) reflected LMU's recognition that air quality was the dominant on-campus threat rather than direct fire
LMU's three-campus footprint (Westchester, Playa Vista, Loyola Law in downtown LA) allowed flexibility in deciding where to concentrate operations during the fires
ALL CLEAREmail
Approximate reconstructionReconstructed from LMU Newsroom's January 12, 2025 advisory confirming the on-schedule start of spring semester on January 13380 chars
California Wildfire Update — LMU's three campuses remain outside the wildfire impact zones. Spring semester begins as planned on Monday, January 13. Surgical and N95 face masks remain available in residence halls and key buildings. LMU continues to support displaced community members through the Wildfire Relief Fund and Care Network. Resources are available at newsroom.lmu.edu.

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

Issued Sunday, January 12, 2025 — the day before LMU's spring semester was scheduled to begin
Unlike Cal State LA, Pasadena City College, and Glendale Community College — all of which closed for days — LMU's distance from the Palisades and Eaton fires allowed continuous operations
The Wildfire Relief Fund and Care Network were institutional innovations that other LA-area private universities (including Pepperdine and USC) emulated in subsequent days
Context

Background

Loyola Marymount University is a private Jesuit university with approximately 10,000 students on a bluff campus in Westchester, Los Angeles — about 6 miles south of the Pacific Palisades, where the Palisades Fire ignited at approximately 10:30 AM PST on January 7, 2025. The fire, driven by Santa Ana winds gusting over 100 mph, would ultimately destroy more than 6,800 structures and kill at least 12 people across Pacific Palisades and Malibu. Although LMU itself was never within the fire perimeter, the smoke plume and air-quality impacts reached Westchester within hours. At 2:10 PM PST, LMU Communications sent a campus advisory — the first of more than a dozen advisories LMU would publish over the following week as the Palisades, Eaton, Hughes, and Sunset fires together became the January 2025 Southern California wildfires. LMU's response model contrasted with nearby LA-area institutions: Cal State LA, Pasadena City College, and Glendale Community College all closed for multiple days, while LMU kept all three campuses (Westchester, Playa Vista, Loyola Law) operational and began spring semester on schedule on January 13. The university distributed surgical and N95 masks at residence halls and key buildings, established a Wildfire Relief Fund, and accommodated displaced students, faculty, and staff. The case illustrates the importance of careful 'we are not impacted but we are watching' messaging during regional disasters — a posture that preserves institutional credibility for any future advisories that may need to shift toward operational changes.
Analysis

Key Findings

LMU's first advisory went out at 2:10 PM PST on January 7, 2025 — approximately 3 hours 40 minutes after the Palisades Fire ignited at 10:30 AM in the Santa Monica Mountains
The advisory used deliberately measured language ('not currently impacted, and all campus operations are normal') rather than declaring the campus 'safe' — preserving options as conditions evolved
Unlike Cal State LA, PCC, and Glendale CC — all of which closed for days — LMU's three campuses remained operational and spring semester began on schedule January 13
LMU distributed surgical and N95 masks in specifically-named buildings (residence halls, Foley Annex, Malone 301, University Hall 1900) — reflecting air quality as the dominant on-campus threat
LMU's Wildfire Relief Fund and Care Network became reference institutional responses that other LA-area private universities adopted during subsequent fire weeks
Outcome
Spring semester started on schedule January 13. No fires reached LMU's three campuses. Surgical and N95 masks were distributed at residence halls and key buildings. LMU established a wildfire relief fund and accommodations for displaced students, faculty, and staff.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Official
    Campus Advisory: Fire in Pacific Palisades - LMU Newsroom
    newsroom.lmu.edu
  2. Official
    California Wildfire Updates - LMU Newsroom
    newsroom.lmu.edu
  3. Official
    Thursday, January 9 (Morning): California Wildfire Update - LMU Newsroom
    newsroom.lmu.edu
  4. Official
    Sunday, January 12: California Wildfire Update - LMU Newsroom
    newsroom.lmu.edu
  5. Student Paper
    DEVELOPING: LMU issues campus advisory as Pacific Palisades fire grows - Los Angeles Loyolan
    laloyolan.com
  6. Official
    Palisades Fire - CAL FIRE
    fire.ca.gov
Tags
wildfireprivate-r2californiapalisades-firecampus-advisorywestchesterjesuitsanta-ana-windsair-qualitywildfire-relief-fund
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion