School officials cancel classes due to fire conditions in Santa Clarita?

10/22/2007 I know this is old news but upon reflection in the aftermath of these fires I cant help but pose a few questions we all may need to be asking about campus safety? I am going to focus my thoughts on the campuses of West Ranch High School and the Rancho Pico Jr High Schools.

Our family as well as families throughout our valley got the call that schools would be closed as a result of the fires in Santa Clarita. We were personally relieved as the air quality was poor as a result of all the fires burning around us in Santa Clarita. I never imagined the potential nightmare the following day that could have resulted had it not been for the foresight of school officials. A new unexpected fire "The Magic Fire" accidentally set by a construction crew working near "Magic Mountain" within minutes had seriously threatened the West Ranch High School Campus and community of Westridge and later Stevenson Ranch.

I happened to be following events on our local hometown station KHTS 1220 A.M.which was covering the fires. I captured the following footage below which highlights the real danger posed by this fire. Many of those who did not witness this fire firsthand were unaware how quickly it moved and how precarious it was to local homes in Westridge, Stevenson Ranch and in particular the West Ranch High School campus.

Some parents dismissed this fire and complained how they were inconvenienced by the school closings and felt it was unnecessary to have closed the campuses. I believe after viewing this video they may rethink that position. If not for a southwesterly wind and the relentless assault of fixed winged and helicopter water drops the outcome could have been very different? Catastrophic comes to mind.

I am certain School officials never imagined the events that would transpire that day but it does raise awareness and concern as to the evacuation of the two campuses and neighboring homes in the event of a future fire. Do the campuses have disaster plans that take into account both Rancho Pico and West Ranch campuses having to utilize the incomplete main throughfare Valencia Blvd?

Valencia Blvd is presently a dead end street. This street is proposed to connect to Pico Canyon Road in Stevenson Ranch some time in the near future. Should this street be completed sooner rather than later in the interest of public safety?

I know this may cause concern but I can't imagine both of these campuses having to evacuate within minutes flooding Valencia Blvd at the same time not to mention homeowners fleeing their homes in the event of a future fire or natural disaster during school hours. I believe there must be another escape route from this area.

I believe that the northern portion of Valencia Blvd should be completed as soon as possible to allow another escape route for future natural disasters. This could mean the difference of averting a potential disaster in the future.

I am not an expert, nor a civil engineer, but a concerned parent. It's been a few days since the fire and I am reflecting on this event from a different perspective. I do not mean to alarm anyone but I do believe we need to be assured that these types of scenarios have been adequately evaluated and planned for.

Did school officials make the right call to cancel classes throughout Santa Clarita especially at West Ranch High School?

After viewing this video you make the call? West Ranch High School Fire.

I am grateful they did!!

All views, opinions, observations are strictly my own, unless stated otherwise, and do not reflect the views of Keller Williams VIP Properties.