STATEMENT

University of California President Robert C. Dynes issued the following statement today (Oct. 23) regarding the fires in Southern California.

The thoughts and best wishes of the entire University of California community are with the many people in Southern California who are coping with the devastating wildfires that have spread with frightening speed over the last two days. Many people who are part of the UC family have been displaced or otherwise affected by the fires. I want them to know that they are being thought of, and that the University will work to assist them in every way possible.

The situation has been particularly difficult in San Diego County, where vast numbers of residents have been forced to evacuate and the air quality has deteriorated significantly. Many employees and friends of UC San Diego live in areas that have been threatened or already overrun by the wildfires. Despite the personal concerns demanding their attention, many UCSD employees continue attending to the needs of students, patients and the broader community.

The UCSD campus remains closed due to the extremely poor air quality in the region, and classes now have been canceled for the remainder of the week, though the campus itself is not in immediate danger. UCSD students continue to have access to dining and residence halls and to health and psychological services as needed. And many people at UCSD are working around the clock to ensure good communication with students, parents, faculty, staff, local government and coordinating agencies. Information and updates are available at www.ucsd.edu.

UCSD Healthcare hospitals and clinics remain open, and their personnel are working with great dedication and commitment to provide the highest-quality patient care to firefighters and residents from across the region, including at the UC San Diego Medical Center Regional Burn Center. Again, I know that many of our medical center employees are worried about their own homes and families, and I salute their steadfast commitment to serving the acute medical needs of their community during this emergency.

Other UC campuses in Southern California remain open but are monitoring the local fire situation closely. All of our campuses stand ready to help the affected areas of Southern California not only cope with the immediate fires but also address the longer-term health and emergency management issues associated with them. And we express our great appreciation to the many people serving the urgent needs of Californians during this difficult time.