As schools near Los Angeles affected by the recent wildfires prepare to reopen, parents are expressing anxieties about the potential dangers of toxic ash for their children. Kelli Ferrone, whose daughters attend Canyon Charter Elementary, a school located merely half a mile from the Palisades Fire devastation, volunteered in cleaning the campus. Despite the efforts, she voiced her preference for a temporary relocation of the school to the Associated Press, rather than a hasty reopening.
Ferrone highlighted the unprecedented nature of this disaster for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), acknowledging the hard work being done but emphasizing the need for a safe and comfortable learning environment. She believes a temporary facility with dedicated classrooms and in-person teaching is crucial to alleviate parental concerns.
The residual ash poses a significant health risk, a complex mixture of incinerated materials including vehicles, electronics, building materials, and household items. This toxic blend contains hazardous substances like pesticides, asbestos, plastics, and lead, to which children are particularly vulnerable. The long-term health consequences of exposure remain uncertain, adding to the apprehension.
Kelli Ferrone accompanies her daughter to a temporary school in Los Angeles on January 24, 2025, while they await the reopening of Canyon Charter Elementary, which was impacted by smoke and ash from the Palisades Fire. (Brittany Peterson)
Canyon Charter Elementary School remained closed on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, in Santa Monica, California, due to the nearby wildfires. (Brittany Peterson)
Dr. Lisa Patel, a pediatrician and executive director of the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, explained to the AP that children's developmental stage, including frequent hand-to-mouth activity and rapid growth, makes them more susceptible to the harmful effects of such pollution. The risk of exposure will persist for a considerable period.
The LAUSD released a statement confirming that all seven of its school sites near the Palisades Fire underwent thorough cleaning and inspection by environmental consultants before reopening. The district adhered to guidelines established by various agencies, including the California Department of Education, the California Environmental Protection Agency, the California Department of Emergency Services, the Los Angeles County Public Health Department, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
A jungle gym, melted and destroyed by the Eaton Fire, is pictured at a school in Altadena, California, on January 15, 2025. (John Locher, File)
Plumes of smoke from the Hughes Fire rise above Castaic, California, on January 22, 2025. (Ethan Swope, File)
While some parents grapple with the safety of reopened schools, others face the devastating reality of having no school to return to. Actor Chris Pratt, known for his role in "Guardians of the Galaxy," shared on social media the loss of his son's school and his ex-wife Anna Faris's home in the fires.
