The LA fires partially destroyed the famous school, which was the setting for several Hollywood blockbusters, including Freaky Friday.
More than 40 percent of Palisades Charter High School was “damaged or destroyed” as a result of the devastating inferno, the school’s principal revealed.
The free school, where American filmmaker JJ Abrams and Black Eyed Peas member Will.i.am attended, has been partially destroyed by the inferno, creating “dangerous conditions” on campus.
On Sunday, the Palisades fire — the largest of the three blazes sweeping through Los Angeles — scorched 23,713 acres and was only 13 percent contained.
Principal Dr. Pam Magee warned students not to visit campus due to potential risks, such as asbestos and black carbon.
Likely due to its sought-after location, Palisades Charter High School has long been a popular filming location for Hollywood films, setting the stage for Stephen King’s 1976 adaptation of Carrie.
The school was also featured in the 2003 American comedy Freaky Friday, when the school was visited by Anna (played by Lindsay Lohan) and Jake (played by Chad Michael Murray).
MTV’s Teen Wolf, which follows a high school student after a werewolf bite and stars Dylan O’Brien and Tyler Posey, also used the school as a filming location.
The LA fires have destroyed 40 percent of Palisades Charter High School, the filming location for Stephen King’s Carrie (pictured).
Recently, international pop star Olivia Rodrigo filmed the music video for Good 4 U in the school’s sports hall and locker room facilities.
“Earlier this week, Pali’s Director of Operations and I were driven to campus by police escorts due to dangerous conditions,” the school’s principal wrote in a Facebook post.
Dr. Pam Magee continued, “I am pleased to report that many areas were not visibly damaged by the fire, including Gilbert Hall, Mercer Hall, most classrooms, gyms, the baseball field, MGAC/pool, Stadium by the Sea, the Quadruple , and more.
‘Moreover, a significant portion – now estimated at over 40 percent – has been damaged or destroyed.
“I ask for the full cooperation of the Palisades community: our families, employees, students and neighbors.
“Due to the damage and potential hazards, such as asbestos, PCBs, black carbon and other toxins, we must restrict access to campus.”
The famous school was also the setting for the 2003 American comedy Freaky Friday, starring Lindsay Lohan as Anna (pictured centre), Hayley Hudson as Peg (pictured left) and Christina Vidal as Maddie (pictured right).
More recently, pop star Olivia Rodrigo used the school’s sports facilities to film her music video for Good 4 U (pictured)
Pictured: Palisades Charter High School is located across the street from homes destroyed in the Jan. 7 Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades
The post continued, “Only individuals authorized by me, the LAPD, or the Los Angeles Unified School District will be allowed on the premises.
‘In short: please do not enter the campus, as it is off-limits until further notice.
“The presence of these toxins, especially in the fire zone, can pose significant health risks, especially for children, and we want to ensure the safety of everyone.”
Due to the damage from the fires, Palisades Charter School students are currently transitioning to virtual learning.
The fires have destroyed 40,000 acres spread across LA’s most affluent neighborhoods, with A-list celebrity homes and restaurant hotspots among the 12,300 buildings wiped out.
Local fire departments have warned that higher winds and more fire would keep those under mandatory evacuation orders from returning home to assess damage.
“Life-threatening winds and dangerously low humidity are forecast for much of Southern California, creating a significant risk of rapid fire spread,” the California Fire Marshal (calFire) said in a statement. “The wind will cause more fire activity.”
Helpless locals are now turning to the maps to assess the damage remotely. Through thousands of photos they learn which houses were razed to the ground and which were miraculously spared.
Palisades Charter High School was also used in MTV’s Teen Wolf (pictured), starring Dylan O’Brien
A The Eaton fire map is displayed 3,800 structures inspected, including Mandy Moore’s childhood home, in the mountainous region north of LA – about 24 percent of the evacuation zone decimated by fire.
California Fire Chief Kevin Bohall said 1,422 of the buildings they have reached so far have been completely destroyed. Another 212 suffered some damage.
The map shows the carnage and destruction four houses in a row that somehow still stand seemingly untouched – while surrounded by ash and rubble.
LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said, “There are still burning fires in the Palisades area, making it extremely, extremely dangerous to the public.
“There is no power, there is no water, there are broken gas pipes and we have unstable structures.”
Efforts will be further stepped up as the fires are brought under control, but an urgent weather warning issued on Sunday revealed there is still an increased risk over the next 72 hours.
Officials warned that the ash could contain lead, arsenic, asbestos and other harmful materials.
Authorities have issued a rare red flag warning for a “particularly dangerous situation”, which was also issued the day before the first fires broke out last week.
Pictured: Lindsay Lohan as Anna (pictured left) and Chad Michael Murray as Jake (pictured right) on the set of Freaky Friday
The Eaton Fire has destroyed 14,117 hectares of land, an estimated 7,000 structures and 16 people were found dead in the charred rubble, making it the fifth deadliest fire ever in California, even as it continues to rip through the mountains.
The inferno is 27 percent contained, but fears are growing that turbulent weather forecast for the next 72 hours will only fan the flames and make it harder to contain.
But Eaton’s magnitude is dwarfed by the Palisades Fire spreading closer to the coast, which has torn through famed enclaves from Pacific Palisades to Malibu and threatened homes in Brentwood and Santa Monica.
The The map of Palisades shows the fire which burned 23,707 prime properties in Southern California, destroying the homes of A-listers including Miles Teller, Paris Hilton and Mel Gibson and leveling entire neighborhoods.
It spread from the famed Pacific Palisades enclave along the coast to Malibu, where it destroyed the iconic homes along the beach.
Craig Fugate, who headed the Federal Emergency Management Agency during the Obama administration, told the Los Angeles Times On Sunday, LA experiences a natural disaster on par with Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
“This is your Hurricane Katrina,” he said.
“It will change the community forever. It will be a touchpoint that everyone will remember, before and after.
Pictured: Firefighters extinguish a hot spot at the high school after the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7
“And for Los Angeles, this will be one of the defining moments in the community, the city and the history of the county.”
Fugate said the difference between flood and fire is what’s left.
‘When forest fires occur, there is nothing left but ash. It’s almost like a total erasure of their history.
‘For many people that will be the compounding trauma. It’s not just that they’ve lost their home, they’ve lost their memories.”
Miles Bliss of the National Weather Service provided a grim update Sunday afternoon, warning that the strong Santa Ana winds that fueled last week’s infernos will intensify again.
“Critical fire conditions are expected during this time, so be prepared to evacuate when officials say so,” he said.
The weather is expected to contribute to another period of dangerous and potentially extreme fire conditions, which could worsen already burning fires and cause more new ones to emerge.