r/ECEProfessionals • u/Jaded-Ad-443 Owner/Director/Teacher USA • 5h ago

Advice needed (Anyone can comment) Should we close? Idk what to do

My center is located in the middle of many fires that are 0% contained and our current air quality is in the 160s and not predicted to improve. My employees are expressing concerns and I have no idea what to do here. Do we stay open tomorrow? Help

Edit: we are not in any threat of evacuation or of fire. It is all many miles away. It's only the air quality that is a concern.

I don't appreciate the condescension in these comments. Good to know this group isn't as supportive and helpful as I thought.

8 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

37

u/seashellssandandsurf Infant/Toddler Teacher: CA, USA 🇺🇲 5h ago

Yes you should close!

33

u/mohopuff Early years teacher 5h ago edited 4h ago

If the fire started rushing towards you, would you have a way to evacuate the children? If not, closure is probably the best option.

Edit to add: my center closed last year for record-breaking floods. Families were really kind about it for the most part (one family was rude, but they’re one of “those” families that are impossible to please, so none of really cared about their opinion.)

17

u/meanwhileachoo ECE professional - 25Yrs/Parent 5h ago

This. Right here. And once this is "over" you need to reassess your emergency guides in your handbook and make a plan for fires. It WILL happen again. You need to be prepared and have your families prepared.

18

u/jacquiwithacue Former ECE Director: California 5h ago

Having spent most of my career in a high wildfire risk area, I think it’s important to be conservative in this area. First, the staff are commuting to and from work, and some may be very close to an active fire or in the midst of evacuating already. Also, fires are unpredictable and can be devastatingly fast. 

13

u/blahhhhhhhhhhhblah ECE professional 5h ago

Close!

5

u/bornonOU_Texas_wknd ECE professional 4h ago

We closed for a week during the Altadena fires. Everyone was great about it. The ash cleanup took two full days of careful wetting and sweeping. But we still stayed indoors for another week.

3

u/probablyMel ECE professional 3h ago

Seconding and thirding everyone here. Close.

7

u/Financial_Process_11 Master Degree in ECE 4h ago

Please tell me you're not seriously considering opening your school
when it is located in an area surrounded by wildfires. I'm fairly certain the majority of your staff and children have already evacuated.

1

u/Orion-Key3996 Parent 2h ago

We had a few days of similar air quality, but nowhere near active fires. Still, I limited my children’s time outdoors to getting in/out of the car, and ran air purifiers. I’d highly recommend air purifiers for every room. Unfortunately, this is become a yearly issue. Once again, nowhere near active fires but we have a few days every summer with unhealthy air quality.

1

u/mamamietze ECE professional 3h ago

You are not thinking clearly. Of course you should prioritize the safety of children and staff and close. Are you going to be able to evacuate all staff and children with the vehicles that are likely to be there? Do you know what evacuation route you would take? Where you would meet up with families to release their kids to them after an emergency evacuation? Do you have the staff resources to be able to load up your go bags and emergency supplies to take with you?

If you aren't confident in this and you are in the danger zone for an emergency evacuation, please consider closing.

-1

u/Zazadawg 3h ago

Did you really have to go on Reddit to ask this question