Emerson College is actively monitoring the status of the multiple wildfires in the Los Angeles region and will update this page as needed if new developments arise that affect our campus.
Current Update
January 17, 2025 3:13 p.m. PST
As the fires in the LA region continue and recovery efforts take place, the College offers the following guidance to community members as they navigate the current situation.
The most current updates as of publication are as follows:
Palisades Fire
- DATE: January 17, 2025
- TIME: 12:04 PM
- SIZE: 23,713 acres with 31% contained
- DISTANCE TO CAMPUS: ~16 miles
Eaton Fire
- DATE: January 17, 2025
- TIME: 8:34 AM
- SIZE: 14,117 acres, 65% contained
- DISTANCE TO CAMPUS: ~20 miles
Air Quality
Weather/Wind Forecast
ELA is fully operational and is offering space and supplies to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and newly admitted families Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–5:00 pm. Please review the 1/13/25 updates for details and additional resources.
ELA will continue to monitor the situation, and we look forward to welcoming our Spring ’25 class during move-in on January 18.
We are compiling accurate information on community members who have experienced serious disruptions and need support. If you have been severely impacted, please melinda_valente [at] emerson.edu (email melinda_valente[at]emerson[dot]edu).
Previous Updates
January 13, 2025 5:15 p.m. PST
While our Emerson Los Angeles (ELA) campus is currently in a safe area, the air quality in the city has been impacted at times. Therefore, we are taking precautions to support our students’ health and safety.
The College has shipped a supply of masks to the ELA campus, and they will be available for students when they arrive for the spring semester. These masks are intended to help get everyone started, but since air quality can remain an issue for an extended period, we strongly encourage students to bring their own masks (N95, KN95, or equivalent) to ensure they’re prepared for the duration of the semester.
The College has compiled the following safety tips based on recommendations from trusted sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
- Check the Air Quality Daily: Apps like AirNow or IQAir provide real-time updates. If the Air Quality Index (AQI) is above 100, try to limit outdoor activities and wear a mask if you go outside.
- Create a Safe Indoor Space: Keep windows and doors closed when air quality is poor. Consider purchasing an air purifier to improve the air inside your living area.
- Stay Hydrated and Rested: Smoke can be irritating and dehydrating, so drinking plenty of water and getting enough rest is key to feeling your best.
- Listen to Your Body: If you start to feel unwell—especially if you have asthma, allergies, or another respiratory condition—please take it seriously. If you use medications to help manage your asthma and allergies, please make sure you have an adequate supply in an easily accessible location. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a healthcare provider for assistance or medical advice.
- Stay Informed: The College will continue to monitor the situation and share updates as needed, but you can also stay updated by signing up for the City of Los Angeles’s mass notification system, NotifyLA.
Students who have questions or need anything are encouraged to reach out to Spring25ELA [at] emerson.edu (Spring25ELA[at]emerson[dot]edu).
January 13, 2025 12:45 p.m. PST
Starting Monday, January 13, alumni can use the Emerson College Los Angeles Center (ELA) at 5960 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90028, as a refuge during the day. ELA will also have various necessities on hand for alumni. If you can, please contact Melinda Valente (melinda_valente [at] emerson.edu (melinda_valente[at]emerson[dot]edu)) before heading to ELA.
ELA is also accepting donations of new and unopened packages of water, food, toiletries, blankets, and socks to distribute to those in need. If you are in the area and would like to help your fellow Emersonians, please consider dropping donations off at ELA between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
If there are other ways that you can personally assist alumni, such as navigating the insurance claims process or providing relocation assistance, please alumni [at] emerson.edu (email alumni[at]emerson[dot]edu), and we will distribute that information to alumni.
Many additional resources are available to those in need and those wanting to help. We’ve included just a few here.
- This Los Angeles Times article has a running list of regional and local organizations in need of assistance.
- Charity Navigator’s list of highly rated organizations providing immediate and long-term assistance
- American Red Cross
- California Disaster Help and Information Center
- Mutual Aid LA Network also has an extensive list of resources available.
We will continue to assess the needs of our community and provide additional resources and assistance in the days ahead.
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January 13, 2025 4:00 a.m. PST
After thoughtful consideration, we will begin the spring semester at the scheduled time unless circumstances significantly change. However, we will offer flexibility to accommodate those who may need extra time getting to campus. Please review the following regarding the start of the semester at ELA:
- Students who need to delay move-in, attend orientation and/or start their classes remotely may request this option for the first week of class, January 21-24 by Spring25ELA [at] emerson.edu (emailing Spring25ELA[at]emerson[dot]edu).
- Move-In will commence as regularly scheduled on Saturday, January 18 at your scheduled move-in time.
- Orientation will occur as planned on Tuesday, January 21 in the Emerson LA Bordy Center.
- Classes will begin as regularly scheduled on Thursday, January 23.
- Internships will begin as planned. Students delaying arrival should contact their internship advisors to discuss adjusting their start date with their sites.
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January 9, 2025 11:00 a.m. PST
To the Emerson community,
I’m writing from Los Angeles with an update on the wildfires and their impact on Emerson Los Angeles (ELA). It is hard to describe the chaotic scenes and the devastating feelings people, including many in Emerson's extended community, are experiencing in this crisis. Our hearts go out to everyone affected directly or indirectly by these tragic circumstances, and we are grateful for the heroic work of our first responders.
Strong winds and spreading fires last evening, including the Sunset Fire north of the ELA campus, led us to preemptively evacuate the ELA building as a precautionary measure. Several students, staff, and I relocated overnight to a downtown Los Angeles hotel out of an abundance of caution. I want to thank Tim Chang and Chad Hagan Myers, among many others at ELA and in Boston, for their work last evening to support and protect our students and staff.
The Los Angeles Fire Department has now lifted the Sunset Fire evacuation zone, including the area immediately adjacent to campus. ELA will operate primarily remotely today and tomorrow. We will continue to monitor the situation carefully and remain vigilant to protect the health and safety of our community. As of today, we expect all plans to proceed for ELA's move-in next week, and we will provide timely updates as long as they are needed to ensure our community remains well-informed.
Please remember that many resources are available for those in need, both on the ground and through the Emerson Wellness Center, UWill, the Center for Spiritual Life, the Healing & Advocacy Collective, and the Employee Assistance Program.
Thank you,
Jay Bernhardt
President
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January 8, 2025 1:48 p.m. PST
To the Emerson community,
I am sending this message from Los Angeles, where I arrived earlier today. With the wildfires dominating national news and literally clouding California’s horizon, many of you may be concerned about loved ones in the Los Angeles area, including our friends and colleagues at Emerson Los Angeles (ELA) and our many alumni and families living and working in the area.
I want to assure the community that our ELA campus is safe, albeit quite windy and smoky. My thanks to the leaders, faculty, and staff at ELA for managing the situation in Los Angeles and supporting our community. We anticipate that undergraduate ELA students can move in as scheduled on Saturday, Jan. 18, but we will provide updates if warranted. If there are affected students who need to adjust their move-in schedule, please contact hre [at] emerson.edu (hre[at]emerson[dot]edu) for the Boston Campus and ela_reslife [at] emerson.edu (ela_reslife[at]emerson[dot]edu) for the LA campus.
The wildfires have directly and indirectly impacted many members of our extended Emerson community, and we hope and pray for their safety. Please remember that support is available from the Emerson Wellness Center, UWill, the Center for Spiritual Life, the Healing & Advocacy Collective, and the Employee Assistance Program.
Thank you,
Jay Bernhardt
President