Schools Reopen after Closure due to Airport Fire

After days of displacement due to the Airport Fire, students from two campuses in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District were due to return to their home classrooms today.

Robinson Elementary and Trabuco Elementary schools were initially shut down September 10, one day after public works crews accidentally sparked a fire in Trabuco Canyon near an area used by a remote-control flying club.

Subsequently named the Airport Fire, the blaze quickly grew to more than 5,000 acres, triggering evacuation orders and road closures in Orange County. The fire eventually spread to neighboring Riverside County and has charred more than 23,000 acres.

Aided by cooler weather, firefighters have made significant progress allowing evacuation orders and road closures to be lifted. The fire was 31% contained as of Tuesday afternoon, according to CalFire.

The progress allowed for Robinson and Trabuco to reopen their campuses today to staff and students.

Last week, while all other SVUSD campuses remained open, Robinson and Trabuco students spent three days home from school. They did not participate in synchronous virtual learning, according to SVUSD spokeswoman Alyssa Griffiths.

"While second-grade and above students have district-issued devices to access online learning, we understand this has been a stressful time for families facing challenges such as temporary housing and concerns about their homes," Griffiths wrote in an email to Spotlight Schools.

"Recognizing the added difficulty of finding reliable internet access and attending virtual classes, we provided online resources and learning support, though virtual instruction was not mandatory," she added.

Teachers from the impacted schools participated in professional development at an alternate location, Griffiths said.

Trabuco Elementary, a K-6 campus with 95 students, is described as "a hidden gem, nestled in between the old oak trees of Trabuco Canyon," according to its website.

Trabuco sent out an encouraging message to its families on its Instagram account on Sept. 10. "Hang in there, Trabuco Coyotes!" it read and continued, "Student, staff, and family safety remains the number one priority for our school. We miss you all so much and are here if you need anything!"

Robinson Elementary serves about 500 students and is located on Lindsay Drive in Trabuco Canyon. A Sept. 10 post on the school's Parent Teacher Association Instagram page expressed gratitude to the people battling the fire, "THANK YOU to all of our Firefighters and first responders working tirelessly to keep us all safe. We appreciate you and we are grateful for your bravery and dedication to our community."

Yesterday, Trabuco and Robinson students were able to attend in-person learning at other SVUSD campuses including Cielo Vista Elementary, Glen Yermo Elementary, and Trabuco Mesa Elementary.

Trabuco Elementary's Instagram account posted images from their time at Trabuco Mesa, thanking the school for "such a warm welcome." The post showed students lined up with signs and pom-poms to greet the visiting Trabuco Coyotes.

The district and schools kept families updated with daily posts on its website and through emails. In a statement from yesterday announcing the reopening of Trabuco and Robinson, the district thanked families for their cooperation.

"We are grateful for your patience and understanding during the temporary relocation, and we appreciate the resilience shown by our students, families, and staff," read the statement from Robert Craven, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services at SVUSD.

"Thank you once again for your continued support as we transition back to normal operations," he added, and ended with, "We look forward to welcoming everyone back to their home campuses!"

Are you a parent, guardian, or student in Orange County that was impacted by the Airport Fire? We want to hear from you! Please email us at hello@spotlightschools.com to share your perspective. Your comments could be featured in an upcoming story.