Lilac Fire: Schools, Colleges Closed Friday In San Diego County

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA – A dozen school districts, nine charter schools, and three colleges and universities will be closed Friday because of fire, smoke and strong winds associated with the Lilac Fire in northern San Diego County, according to the County Office of Education and other school officials.

The K-12 campuses closed Friday include Bonsall Unified School District, Carlsbad Unified School District, Fallbrook Union Elementary School District, Fallbrook Union High School District, Julian Union Elementary School District, Julian Union High School District, Mountain Empire Unified School District, Oceanside Unified School District, San Marcos Unified School District, Spencer Valley School District, Vista Unified School District and Warner Unified School District.

The charter schools closed Friday include Bella Mente Montessori Academy, Classical Academy, Classical Academy High School, Coastal Academy, Epiphany Prep's Escondido campus, Escondido Charter High School, Guajome Park Academy, Heritage K-8 Charter and North County Trade Tech High School.

<<< ALSO SEE: Strong Santa Ana Winds Prompt 'Extreme' Fire Warning In San Diego >>>

Bonsall Elementary School, Sullivan Middle School and Bonsall High School were evacuated shortly after the Lilac Fire started Thursday near Interstate 15 and State Route 76 in Bonsall. Students were bused to Fallbrook High School for pickup, according to Bonsall Unified School District.

While some of the shuttered campuses are directly in the path of the blaze, other schools are closed Friday in expectation of possible power outages due to strong Santa Ana winds.

Momentum Learning juvenile court and community schools, which is operated by the San Diego County Office of Education, also planned to close its Youth Day Center, Breaking Cycles, Innovations Academy of Empowerment and North County Technology Academy. North County Academy, also operated by the County Office of Education, will also be closed.

Cal State San Marcos has canceled all classes, campus events and non-essential business operations for both the San Marcos and CSUSM at Temecula campuses through Sunday. CSUSM's Center for Children and Families will also be closed. CSUSM Housing will remain open.

MiraCosta College has closed all sites.

The Palomar Community College District has also canceled all classes and campus events for all sites and facilities.

Here is an alphabetical list of the school closures:

• Bella Mente Montessori Academy (charter school)
• Bonsall Unified School District
• California State University San Marcos
• Carlsbad Unified School District
• Classical Academy and Classical Academy High School (charter schools)
• Coastal Academy (charter school)
• Epiphany Prep: Escondido campus (charter school)
• Escondido Charter High School (charter school)
• Fallbrook Union Elementary School District
• Fallbrook Union High School District
• Guajome Park Academy (charter school)
• Heritage K-8 Charter (charter school)
• Julian Union Elementary School District
• Julian Union High School District
• MiraCosta College
• Momentum Learning juvenile court and community schools: Youth Day Center, Breaking Cycles, Innovations Academy of Empowerment, North County Technology Academy
• Mountain Empire Unified School District
• North County Academy (SDCOE-operated school)
• North County Trade Tech High School (charter school)
• Oceanside Unified School District
• Palomar Community College District
• San Marcos Unified School District
• Spencer Valley School District
• Vista Unified School District
• Warner Unified School District

ALSO SEE:

• Lilac Fire: 4,100 Acres Burned, 0% Contained In San Diego County
• San Diego County Under Red Flag Fire Warning Through Sunday
• SDG&E Shuts Off Power To Thousands In San Diego County
• Lilac Fire Burns Out Of Control In San Diego County

Photo by Gregory Bull/Associated Press