Following renovations to the fire-damaged school, Webster Elementary School returned to pupils Monday, one month after the Franklin Fire broke out in Malibu, scorching over 4,000 acres.
The wildfire drove thousands of people to evacuate, closing schools in Malibu. Webster was the only school to receive fire damage, including roofs, several campus buildings, and ground solar panels.
Over winter break, an industrial hygienist and a professional restoration and cleaning firm worked to keep the campus safe, healthy, and clean, according to Dr. Antonio Shelton, superintendent of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.
“Crews thoroughly cleaned and restored inside and outside the Webster campus to the highest industry standards including all classroom contents, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, electronics, carpets, floors, and building exteriors,” Shelton wrote to members of the community and the campus families.
He acknowledged that several areas of the campus still require improvement, including the library’s cleanliness, but said classes will resume on Monday with a minimum of one day off.
One mom expressed her excitement that her daughter was returning to school as pupils began to arrive on campus.
We’re thrilled that she’s returning to school because they haven’t been there since the day of the fire. “This winter break has been really long,” parent Amber Ugarte remarked. “So we’re happy to be back and I know there’s going to be the Santa Ana’s coming in soon, so we’re all keeping our fingers crossed that we don’t get another break from school.”
The cause of the Franklin Fire is still being investigated, and a red flag warning was in effect when the blaze started on December 9. Thousands of Malibu residents were forced to flee, although the fire did not cause any serious injuries or fatalities. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reports that a total of 20 buildings were destroyed and 28 were damaged.
One day after Webster Elementary reopens, a significant Santa Ana wind event is triggering another red flag warning.
Beginning at 10 a.m. on Tuesday and lasting until 6 p.m. on Thursday, the National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for portions of Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
In addition, Southern California Edison advises that 70,313 customers in Los Angeles County may be subject to power outages.
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