CSU Channel Islands will remain closed Friday, a day after officials evacuated the Camarillo campus and the nearby University Glen neighborhood after they were threatened by the Springs fire. <\/p>\n
Friday typically is a light day for academic classes, said university spokeswoman Nancy Gill. It makes sense at this point. <\/p>\n
Students who live on campus were not allowed back Thursday night and all student housing remained closed, Gill said. About 15 Channel Islands students are staying at a nearby Red Cross shelter, she said. University Glen, however, was reopened to residents late Thursday. <\/p>\n
When the campus decided to evacuate Thursday morning, officials were mostly concerned about smoke from the nearby fire. Just four hours later, 20-foot flames had spread to the campus, leaving hills and newly-planted landscaping charred, but no buildings burned. <\/p>\n
The evacuations were announced in emails, texts, Facebook posts and by loudspeaker in class. Student Heidi Ahmed, about to join the long stream of cars leaving campus, was more worried about the upcoming week than the smoke blowing over her. <\/p>\n
Theres a lot going on at school next week, she said. Its the week before finals. <\/p>\n
As the fire burned, University Glen resident Alan Penn and others stood on Lewis Road watching flames snake along the hill next to campus. <\/p>\n
Penn and his wife rushed home from their jobs in Thousand Oaks to evacuate, but emergency personnel had stopped letting anyone into the neighborhood. <\/p>\n
I have a dog and cat at home, and my windows are open, Penn said. My fear is that theyll get consumed by smoke. <\/p>\n
On campus, firefighters put out two small fires, sparked by embers landing in pine needles on the roofs of empty buildings. Another building was in the path of the fire, but firefighters put out the blaze before it caused any damage. <\/p>\n
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CSU Channel Islands will remain closed Friday after fire threatens campus<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" CSU Channel Islands will remain closed Friday, a day after officials evacuated the Camarillo campus and the nearby University Glen neighborhood after they were threatened by the Springs fire. Friday typically is a light day for academic classes, said university spokeswoman Nancy Gill. It makes sense at this point. Continue reading