U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Begins Assessment of Heavily Damaged Eliot Arts Magnet School Today

The United States Army Corps of Engineers is set to begin assessing the condition of heavily damaged Eliot Arts Magnet School in Altadena today.

The assessment aims to develop a plan for fire debris removal while maintaining, to the extent possible, the architectural and historical integrity of the Altadena campus, largely destroyed on January 8 by the Eaton Fire.

This evaluation is a critical component of the federal debris removal initiative following the devastation wrought by the Eaton Fire, which affected five District schools.

“As we continue to move forward in restoring and rebuilding our PUSD community, I want to update you on work at Eliot Arts Magnet, which was damaged by the fire,” said Pasadena Unified School District Elizabeth Blanco on Monday Feb. 3. She added, “As previously announced, the United States Army Corps of Engineers has prioritized our area for the removal of fire debris from our five schools that were destroyed or significantly damaged by the Eaton Fire.”

Personnel in hard hats and safety vests will conduct evaluations at the Eliot site, with no debris removal or demolition occurring during this initial assessment phase. The site presents unique challenges, with some buildings destroyed and others damaged, requiring careful planning to protect its historical significance.

The United States Army Corps of Engineers has already conducted assessments of most fire-damaged Pasadena Unified School District sites. Debris removal began this weekend at the Loma Alta site, which sustained the most damage and is located in the burn zone, and at the Edison site. Testing and abatement work is underway at the Noyes site, with Franklin site cleanup expected to begin soon.

The schools have been prioritized by the federal government and supported by Los Angeles County, with efforts aimed at improving air quality conditions by removing ash and windborne debris. District officials are simultaneously working with insurance providers and engineers to assess damage and plan reconstruction.

For additional information, residents can visit the Los Angeles County website at recovery.lacounty.gov .