[Correction] Prepare for potential campus evacuation

Aug 19, 2020 | From the Dean

To: UC Santa Cruz Science Community
From: Dean Paul Koch
Subject: [Correction] Prepare for potential campus evacuation

Dear Science Community,

I’m writing to clarify an important error in our message from earlier this afternoon that may have caused alarm. Though our facilities at UCO Lick and Big Creek Natural Reserve have had fire impacting their locations, there is currently NOT a fire on our residential campus lands, the Coastal Science Campus, the West Side Research Park, or the Scotts Valley Center. Conditions can, of course, change rapidly. and due to wind, debris, and other factors a fire could break out quickly. As such, the original advice stands about powering down equipment, securing your flammable chemicals in fire-safe storage, and ensuring that you have copies of lab notebooks and possession of irreplaceable items if possible.

I apologize for any concern my earlier message caused.

If you have concerns that need to be addressed but you do not have the ability to take care of the issue yourself, please contact Sarah Barron (srbarron@ucsc.edu; 610-764-3925).

Best,
Paul

Original message:

Dear Science Community,

We have received unofficial notice that fire has jumped onto campus lands and the campus may be evacuated. This is NOT an official campus notification, but we are sending advance notice so that you have time to prepare. In particular, labs should start shutting down all equipment as you would normally for winter curtailment, secure chemicals in fire-safe storage and take lab notebooks and other irreplaceable items with you if possible.

If you have concerns that need to be addressed but you do not have the ability to take care of the issue yourself, please contact Sarah Barron (srbarron@ucsc.edu; 610-764-3925).

Best,
Paul

If you have any questions or comments, please contact srbarron@ucsc.edu