North Bay Wildfires Close Schools In Marin County

MARIN COUNTY, CA – Marin County school districts will close schools Friday as a result of a variety of challenges related to the North Bay wildfires.

College of Marin and Dominican University of California will also be closed on Friday. Additionally, with smoke blanketing the Bay Area, school-related sports activities have been canceled countywide through the weekend.

Related:

• Novato Unified Schools Closed Friday Due To North Bay Wildfires
• San Rafael City Schools Closed Friday Due To North Bay Wildfires

The Marin County Office of Education acknowledged the direct and indirect impacts of the wildfires on students, staff and teachers. More than 1,000 Marin school employees live in the northern counties affected by the wildfires.

Also See: California Wildfires Are Causing Problems Well Beyond The Fires' Edge

"We have been in close contact with our districts and have considered a variety of options in the best interest of our students and staff," Mary Jane Burke, county superintendent of schools, said in a statement on Marin County Office of Education's website.

"We think it is very important that the school districts countywide provide a consistent message and we feel that we need to support our staff, families and community as a whole," Burke said. "Our hearts go out to the families who are facing these devastating circumstances."

Several school sites throughout the county have been identified and are prepared to serve as evacuation shelters if needed, Burke said.

Most schools plan to return to normal operations on Monday. Monday is a non-student day for San Rafael City Schools, so classes are expected to resume Tuesday.

Also see:

• Northern California Wildfire Latest: Death Toll Climbs, Acres Burn
• Red Flag Warning, Wind Advisory Issued For North Bay
• Wildfires Cause 'Unprecedented Levels' Of Air Pollution In Bay Area
• SMART Continues Free Train Service Through Sunday

Photo: Smoke and haze from wildfires hovers over the skyline Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017, in San Francisco. Gusting winds and dry air forecast for Thursday could drive the next wave of devastating wildfires that are already well on their way to becoming the deadliest and most destructive in California history. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)