The fires raging in Southern California have impacted thousands of Armenian families who have been forced to evacuate from their homes and have impacted community institutions, with the Sahag Mesrob School in Pasadena baring the brunt of the devastation, Asbarez reports.
The fires have forced mandatory evacuations for thousands of residents, with Armenian community members being impacted. Hundreds of community members living in Altadena, Pasadena, La Canada, Crescenta Valley and northern Glendale have been forced to abandon their homes and seek refuge elsewhere.
Acting swiftly, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western U.S. Central Committee announced on Tuesday night that Armenian community centers in Pasadena, Crescenta Valley, the San Fernando Valley, Montebello and Burbank have opened their doors to community members being forced to evacuate.
Representatives of the Hovhannes and Hripsime Jivalagian Youth Center in Pasadena told Asbarez that, beginning Tuesday night, evacuated community members had sought refuge at the premises and were provided with food, water and beds. The center is also welcoming families with pets.
Schools in the fire-affected areas have been closed, including the Tavlian Pre-School in Pasadena, which was not damaged as of press time. A school board member told Asbarez that the school will require a massive clean up, as soot, ash and other fire-related residue has covered the building.
The St. Gregory A. & M. Hovsepian Armenian school also suspended classes, with no major structural damage reported.
The Sahag Mesrob Armenian Christian School in Altadena, however, was burned down. The school, which has been in operation since 1980, sustained significant structural damage, with classrooms and buildings leveled to the ground.
The Board of Regents of the Prelacy Armenian Schools has suspended classes in the Tavlian, Tufenkian and Pilavjian pre-schools, as well as the Chamlian, Mesrobian, Alex Pillbos, Cabayan and Ferrahian schools for the remainder of the week.
The area around the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church is also under evacuation orders. Prelacy officials reported that the offices were closed on Tuesday, reassuring that Western Prelate Archbishop Kegham Kacherian was safe.
The Prelacy also announced that its churches in Pasadena, Glendale, Montebello and Encino will be open and will welcome families who have been evacuated.
