Just before 7 a.m. the Silverado Canyon Fire broke out east of Santa Ana between Santiago and Silverado Canyons. Later in the morning the Blue Ridge Fire, previously named the Green Fire, erupted near Yorba Linda on the Green River. 

Both of these fires are spewing smoke and ash across the Southern California area, including Biola’s campus in La Mirada. In an email, Biola Campus Safety and the Emergency Management team reassured students that neither fire was causing any direct threat to campus.

“A recently extinguished wildfire in Fullerton and the Silverado fire in Irvine are causing significant smoke on and around campus, however, these and all other fires do not pose a threat to campus,” the email read. “We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates and guidance as needed.”

ON CAMPUS

Under the guidance of The South Coast Air Management District, the university advised students in the area to stay indoors, limit activity outside and keep doors and windows closed. 

Currently, 90,000 residents in Irvine, only 23 miles from La Mirada, have been evacuated, according to Voice of OC.

Biola Athletics also cancelled all weight training and outdoor sports until Tuesday, Freshman business administration major Cade Anderson explained. 

“After class this morning I took a nap and I woke up and it was super smoky,” Anderson said. “Because we had practice this morning and it wasn’t smoky, so I was surprised. Pretty disappointed.” 

Anderson’s men’s soccer coach texted his team around 2 p.m. letting them know practice was halted. No further instructions were given besides asking them to stay indoors as much as they can until Tuesday.

Senior history major Michael Bagatourian also added that although men’s basketball is officially practicing, their coaches are still conscious of the bad air quality and are taking precautions around their athletes. 

Bagatourian who is originally from Irvine said the fires are very close to his home. 

“I was surprised because it’s actually right where I’m from,” he said. “It’s actually burning up my high school baseball field right now.”