Your faithful support encourages us in times such as these. Because of your calls, prayers and offers of assistance, we remain confident yet prepared, vigilant but hopeful. We’re thankful for firefighters, for you and for God’s faithfulness.
(December 21, 9 a.m.) Tremendous prayer support and outstanding work by firefighters have kept Westmont safe. All evacuation orders have been lifted today, but the Westmont campus will not reopen until college and health and safety officials determine that it’s safe for people to return. The campus will likely remain closed through Christmas.
Our close-knit community comes together in the face of challenge, and many stories of God’s protection emerge. A common theme runs through our stories of threatening wildfires: each one could have been much more destructive. Thanks to God’s mercy and the faithful prayers of people, the college has survived disasters and emerges stronger and more unified each time. In the spirit of Westmont’s founder, Ruth Kerr, who activated prayer partners in moments of crisis, we continue this commitment to pray first and reaffirm God’s faithfulness!
Great is Thy Faithfulness
President Gayle Beebe On KEYT, December 16, 2017
Thomas Fire Reaches Campus: Slideshow
President Gayle Beebe talks to KSCB
KCSB’s Lisa Osborn spoke with President Gayle Beebe to find out more about firefighting operations and the abrupt ending to the school quarter.
Fire Brigade Activated for Thomas Fire
Members of the Westmont Fire Brigade, created after the 2008 Tea Fire, have remained on campus in case the Thomas Fire reaches the college.
Westmont College evacuation brings back memories of Tea Fire
The Thomas Fire has forced mandatory evacuations for students, faculty, and staff at Westmont College. Three evacuations were put in place Sunday. But this isn't the first time the campus has been threatened by wildfires.
News Alerts
For more information about Westmont's response to the fire, see our Q & A.
Read President Beebe's Letter about finals.
December 22, 3:00 p.m. update:
December 21, 9 a.m. update:
December 20, 4 p.m. update:
December 18, 12:00 p.m. update:
Follow Westmont’s response to the Thomas Fire on social media
December 17, 9:00 a.m. update:
December 16, 8:30 p.m. update:
December 16, 8:30 a.m. update:
December 15, 5:30 p.m. update:
December 13, 9 a.m. update:
December 11, 5 p.m. update:
A reddish sun looms over students as they head off campus ahead of the evacuation notice
Students checked out with their resident directors at the gym before being picked up by family and friends
The Westmont shuttle takes students to an area church outside of the evacuation notice
December 11, 9 a.m. update:
Westmont remains under mandatory evacuation for the Thomas Fire, and the campus is closed with all services discontinued. Students have left for the semester, and professors are working directly with students to hold finals off campus. Fire officials have confirmed that the fire is not close to Westmont at this time despite what appears on some fire maps.
Q & A Update About Access to Campus
Westmont remains under mandatory evacuation for the Thomas Fire, and the campus is closed with all services discontinued. All faculty, staff and students have left. Students who need housing this week can contact Thomas Staffileno at tstaffileno@westmont.edu. Faculty and staff members have offered to host students, and plenty of rooms remain.
December 10, 5 p.m. update:
December 10, 3 p.m. update:
December 10, 12:30 p.m. update:
At present, Westmont is not in an evacuation zone. As long as we are not under mandatory evacuation, the campus remains open. By tonight, all students will have alternative housing. We’ve encouraged them to leave to make sure everyone is safe. Faculty and staff are offering to host students who need a place to go. Students who need housing can contact Thomas Staffileno at tstaffileno@westmont.edu.
December 10, 10:15 a.m. update:
December 10, 7 a.m. update:
Dear Members of the Westmont Community,
Since the beginning of the Thomas Fire, we have been monitoring its developments closely and posting updates to Westmont’s website. Having experienced the ravages of the 2008 Tea Fire, we know first-hand how fast and how destructive wildfires can be. At no time has the fire itself been a threat to campus, according to the timely and daily updates we receive from the Santa Barbara and Montecito fire departments. It remains more than 10 air miles away, and fire officials anticipate it moving north and east away from Santa Barbara and, specifically, Montecito.
That said, the air quality on campus has been significantly compromised. Although it improved considerably yesterday, it has deteriorated further today with ash falling on campus on a consistent basis. Because we place such a high premium on the health and safety of all members of our community, we have released the students through the weekend and excused staff and faculty from campus who have needed to address fire-related preparations for their home. We also are striving to balance these health and safety concerns, which are our first priority, with maintaining the credibility and integrity of our academic program.
Throughout the weekend, we have been weighing our options. Some students have requested alternatives to the established finals schedule. Other students have expressed a desire to maintain the schedule as planned. Still others have reminded us of their need to stay eligible for sports or remain qualified for their scholarships and financial aid and need the semester to conclude as scheduled with as little disruption to the academic program as possible. While weighing each of these options and trying to balance a variety of competing commitments, we have reached the following conclusions.
After consulting with several faculty and meeting with Provost Sargent and the Faculty Council as well as hearing from students and parents, we have determined that we will not hold final exams on campus. We fully realize that this will create some complexities for faculty and students alike. Thus, we are asking that all faculty members make alternative plans for their final exams. For many of you, that will be a take-home exam. For some smaller classes, that could include a phone or Skype conversation to replace a presentation. For still others, that will mean an alternative assignment. If appropriate to the course, faculty can allow students to take the grade they have earned prior to the final. In short, we are placing the prerogative and responsibility in the hands of faculty who know what is best for their courses and most fair for their students.
In addition, classes originally postponed from Friday to Monday are now cancelled.
We have asked all faculty to notify their students by Monday at noon what the alternative plan for their final exam will be, including when they will distribute their final exam or final assignment. Second, faculty will also indicate the official due date. Under no circumstances will the due date extend beyond December 19 at noon. Our faculty do an incredible job of balancing individual needs with academic integrity, and we know they will continue this commitment now.
Obviously, our policy of granting exceptions and accommodations to students with medical conditions or family emergencies continues. Some students have been affected negatively and directly by the fire, including one student whose home was destroyed. Each situation is unique. Students who believe they have a compelling situation or circumstance that requires special accommodation beyond what is being outlined here need to contact their professors immediately to make alternative arrangements for completing the course. Students should contact their faculty instructor, their faculty advisor or the Provost’s Office if they have questions about incompletes, withdrawals, or other issues that could affect their academic standing.
We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates four times daily (9:00 a.m., 12 noon, 3:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m.). About 400 students remain on campus, and others will need to return to campus after the weekend. We will post additional details as we meet to resolve these unique challenges. Unless otherwise indicated, all administrative and student services on campus will continue as planned. We encourage you to consult the home page of our website for updates and any new information. Let’s continue to pray for all those affected and displaced by the California fires.
Blessings,
Gayle D. Beebe
President
December 9, 4 p.m. update:
December 9, 12 p.m. update:
December 9, 9 a.m. update:
December 8, 6 p.m. update:
December 8, 3 p.m. update:
December 8, 12 p.m. update:
Westmont has installed HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) air scrubbers in the library and the Dining Commons to ensure student’s safety and comfort as they prepare for finals. The gym, another smoke-free site, is open all day until 11 p.m. this evening for students who want to play or hang out.
If anyone on campus needs an N95 mask, they’re available in the library, the Dining Commons and the Health Center. We’ve ordered additional masks, which should arrive in the next few days. If you already have a mask, please continue to use it and replace it only when you find it difficult to breathe; you can use it for days.
The post office and the Westmont College Store close at 3 p.m. today.
Regular hours will continue today in the Dining Commons and resume on Monday, December 11. Limited hours will apply December 9 and 10.
Find updated information about the Thomas Fire at these two sites:
If you’re interested, you may read more on our website about Westmont’s emergency plans.
We’ll post another update at 3 p.m.
December 8, 9 a.m. update:
December 7, 6 p.m. update:
December 7, 3 p.m. update:
Classes canceled Friday, Dec. 8. Campus is open. Finals begin Tuesday, Dec. 12.
December 7, 12 p.m. update:
December 7, 10 a.m. update:
December 6, 4 p.m. update:
December 6, 3 p.m. update:
December 6, 12 p.m. update:
December 6, 8 a.m. update:
December 5, 5 p.m. update:
December 5, 2 p.m. update:
December 5:
Fire Brigade Activated for Thomas Fire
Members of the Westmont Fire Brigade, created following the 2008 Tea Fire, have remained on campus in case the Thomas Fire reaches the college.
Neither Rain, nor Thomas Fire: Westmont Mail Delivers
Two Westmont vice presidents and several other college employees retrieved and loaded up more than 550 packages from the Westmont Post Office ahead of a mandatory evacuation due to the massive Thomas Fire.
Thomas Fire Q&A
Does the Thomas Fire threaten Westmont? What is the status of classes? Is the campus open?