Emergency Update Information

We are closely monitoring the current and potential impacts of the smoke from regional fires in our local community. In particular, we are closely monitoring the Bridge Fire, which does not currently pose a direct threat to the campus. However, shifting winds can create a smoky environment with a vacillating Air Quality Index that may be unhealthy at times for sensitive groups. Please note that the air quality varies throughout the day and this index is updated hourly and includes a link to a fire and smoke map. The Bridge Fire can be monitored at the Cal Fire website.

If you are experiencing any emergency symptoms of respiratory distress, please call Campus Safety at 909-607-2000, and CMC Public Safety officers will respond immediately.

• Community members are urged to reduce outdoor activities, close windows if possible, and wear a mask outdoors, especially members of a sensitive group, including children, the elderly, pregnant people, and people with cardiac and pulmonary illnesses.
• KN95 masks are recommended to help mitigate some of the effects of the smoke when outdoors. If you don’t have a mask, we have them available on campus. Beginning tomorrow morning, students may pick up a mask at the Dean of Students Office (DOS) in Heggblade Center. Faculty and staff can get masks at the Facilities Office at Story House, Dean of Faculty’s Office, or at the Faculty Support Centers.
• Classes, indoor meetings, and activities will continue as scheduled.
• For employees, if you have any workplace issues or questions related to these weather conditions, please discuss them with your supervisor or contact Human Resources for consultation.
• For students, if you have any classroom issues or questions related to these weather conditions, please discuss them directly with your professors.
• CMS Athletics is following SCIAC Air Quality Protocol to authorize outdoor activity. Please be in contact with your coaches and PE instructors for daily decisions about outdoor athletics activities and PE classes.
• Early in the COVID pandemic, all of CMC’s indoor air filtration systems were upgraded, which helps to filter small particles from the wildfire smoke. This includes offices, classrooms, and residence hall rooms that have air-conditioning.
• CMC has four residence halls in the North Quad that are not air-conditioned.
  • In anticipation of the heat wave, DOS contacted all NQ residents to survey them regarding their preferred plans to stay in their rooms, to get an air mattress from DOS to sleep with friends or in other air-conditioned spaces, or to relocate to any open residence hall rooms on campus and housing typically reserved for COVID isolation. DOS contacted and supported all students who filled out that form.
  • Last night, with the new impact of smoke, DOS held a Zoom meeting for all NQ residents to provide updates on the fire and smoke conditions and to recommend that they keep their windows closed. Facilities worked with DOS and CMS Recreation Staff to open Roberts Pavilion for sleeping and placed beds in Studio A and a large classroom for those who wanted to sleep in the air-conditioned building.
  • Students with health conditions are urged to contact DOS for individualized support.
  • Resident Assistants are providing outstanding support to residents and working closely with DOS to support students across the campus.
• The Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management is monitoring campus 24/7 and tracking all direct and indirect threats to the campus posed by the weather conditions and fire. Again, please call 909-607-2000 in emergency situations and officers will respond immediately.

These are very stressful times and can have significant impact on people in the fire zones. If you, or your family, resides in an area directly impacted by the fires and are required to evacuate, please reach out to Human Resources (faculty and staff) or DOS (students) for support and assistance.

We continue to monitor the heat, air quality, and fire conditions in Claremont and the surrounding areas and wanted to provide this update.

• The Claremont Colleges are not currently under an evacuation warning or an evacuation order status. 
• Today, so far, we are thankfully experiencing a drop in the outdoor temperature and some better air quality at times. Please keep monitoring those metrics as they shift throughout the day. 
• We remain concerned. The Bridge Fire acreage expanded overnight resulting in an evacuation order in Mount Baldy and evacuation warnings in some areas north of the Colleges – in north La Verne, Fergus Falls area, Upland, and San Antonio Heights communities. We continue to actively monitor the status. 
• Classes, meetings, and activities continue as scheduled.
• CMS Athletics will continue to follow the SCIAC Air Quality Protocol to evaluate all outdoor activities. CMS Coaches, PE Instructors, and Recreation staff will update students daily on the status of these activities.
• While the heat conditions have significantly improved and the current forecast indicates that trend will continue, North Quad residents in temporary relocation spaces may continue to use those spaces until the end of the week.  
• CMC has an emergency management plan, and our Incident Operations Team and Executive Policy Group are meeting regularly to monitor current conditions and to prepare for all scenarios.
• Students with any questions or concerns can contact the Dean of Students Office. Faculty should be in touch with the Dean of Faculty’s Office as needed. Employees can reach out to Human Resources for assistance.
• As always, if you are experiencing an emergency on campus, please reach out to Campus Safety at 909-607-2000.