CLEAR CREEK OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER SURVIVED STATION FIRE
As you are probably aware, the Station Fire started near the Clear Creek facility, and burned extensively throughout the area. We evacuated students a few hours after the start of the fire without incident, and the next day were given mandatory evacuation orders for the rest of the staff and residents. This too, was carried out without complications, including the removal of all of our animals to the Pasadena Human Society (Gabby, our bobcat, has been featured in several news reports).
The fire came through the camp area on Saturday with structure protection firefighters on scene, and they successfully saved all of our buildings. We lost a couple of outbuildings and a vehicle, along with phones, water, and power. The latter utility issues, along with a significant measure of clean up, has forced us to cancel all trips through the beginning of October. As yet we have only been able to visit the site, survey the scene, put out hot spots, and do some basic clean up. That said, we will still be assessing the need for further cancellations. Rescheduling of trips should be possible, but we will not be doing so until we have a clearer picture of our return to operations.
If you are wondering if it is even worth visiting at this point, it should be said that much of the Clear Creek canyon fared pretty well, making us something of a green island in an otherwise barren and monochrome landscape. It really is something to see first hand.
We want to thank you all for your past participation in the Clear Creek program, and want to assure you that we will be doing everything in our power to make it available for another 80 years of positive outdoor experiences for the students of LAUSD.
