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TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Wednesday was the first day back for the University of Arizona, but many students have left behind the terrifying scene of fires plaguing southern California.
Lana Bogdanoff, a U of A student, shared her story about how close she and her family came to evacuating due to the Los Angeles fires, and the devastation that surrounded them.
“It was kind of like, felt like a little apocalyptic honestly,” Bogdanoff said. “Like just so many things happening.”
Bogdanoff was home in California when the multiple fires broke out all around her home – and she could only describe the scene as terrifying.
“It’s like, words can’t even express how destructive everything was,” Bogdanoff said.
She added that her mother was in the Pacific Palisades and saw the fire start.
Bogdanoff said she witnessed the wind spreading the fire more and more, and eventually she learned the fire burned down her elementary school.
More fires grew around her family, and as she packed to come back to school – she also was packing to evacuate.
“Might as well just pack, but also like have in mind that you may not be coming back,” Bogdanoff said.
And that’s something Chrissy Lieberman, interim dean of students at the U pf A, said they are very much aware of.
Whether it’s students coming to campus from LA or online students still living out in the area – Liberman said the university has already reached out to help those students in whatever way they need, for as long as they need.
And with the semester just getting started she told 13 News the university’s provost asked all professors to be as accommodating as possible to those students that may be struggling.
“You know we have processes and rules that we do here. But when these large-scale events happen, that’s why our office exists,” Liberman said. “Because we know where there’s some nuance, we know where there’s flexibility, and we also collaborate across campus.”
For now, Bogdanoff said her family has been lucky enough to be spared, which she said cannot be said for countless of her parents’ friends’ homes and cars.
“A lot of people are in pain right now,” Bogdanoff said. “Not just including myself, but just everybody, whose even been majorly more affected than I have been.”
Lieberman said they continue to work on ways to help, and welcome assistance from anyone looking to help the residents of Los Angeles.
You can find more information about the U of A’s resources HERE.
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