Challenge
The Calabasas fire severely impacted the Las Virgenes Unified School District, necessitating extensive cleaning across 3 million square feet of school facilities. The largest affected schools, Agoura Hills and Calabasas High, each measured approximately 400,000 square feet, ceilings exceeding 60 feet in height, and multimillion-dollar gymnasiums. Following the fire, West Coast Fire & Water received a call from a school insurance group to initiate the cleanup process. With 14 schools affected and only four weeks available to complete the cleaning before the Christmas break, the urgency was paramount.
Proposed Solution
West Coast Fire & Water was contracted to address the extensive damage caused by the wildfire, implementing a comprehensive cleaning protocol in collaboration with a third-party hygienist to ensure all affected areas were thoroughly cleaned and certified safe for occupancy. The project followed a structured three-stage approach:
Phase 1 - Cleaning Team Deployment
- A dedicated team was mobilized to clean all affected areas, focusing on both the interior and exterior of the schools.
- This phase involved meticulous cleaning of all horizontal surfaces to effectively remove ash and soot.
- Additionally, carpet cleaning was performed to restore the indoor environments, ensuring that classrooms and gymnasiums were ready for use.
Phase 2 – Equipment Setup and Final Touch-Ups
- A second team was responsible for setting up air scrubbers and hydroxyl generators in every room to reduce particulate matter in the air, improving overall air quality throughout the facilities.
- Concurrently, the team conducted final touch-ups to ensure that every area met cleanliness standards in preparation for the final inspection.
Phase 3 – Quality Control Checks
- The final phase involved thorough quality control checks conducted in collaboration with the hygienist.
- This team ensured that all cleaning protocols were meticulously followed, addressing any areas that required additional attention.
- At the conclusion of the cleaning, the hygienist performed clearance testing to certify that each school was safe for students and staff to return.
Results
West Coast Fire & Water’s structured three-phase cleaning protocol successfully met the urgent demands of the project within the four-week timeframe. The deployment of 250 additional cleaning staff, combined with strategic planning and advanced cleaning technologies, enabled the thorough removal of ash, soot, and smoke from the affected schools.
By the end of the project, all 14 schools, including their outdoor fields, gymnasiums, kitchens and all other on property structures, were cleaned and certified safe for the return of students and staff after the holiday break. This successful execution not only restored the facilities but also reinforced the trust and confidence in the school district from the community.
