GOOD EVENING, I'M JOHN YANG.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME PROGRESS IN CONTAINING THE FIRES RAVAGING THE LOS ANGELES AREA.

THE HEARST FIRES NEARLY 90% CONTAINED.

THE MUCH LARGER PALISADES AND EATON FIRES ARE BEING RAISED TO BE CONTAINED.

THIS MORNING, THE FIRE CHIEF SPOKE TO REPORTERS.

>> STRONG SANTA ANA WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO LAST THROUGH WEDNESDAY, WITH THE STRONGEST OCCURRING ON TUESDAY.

EVERY AVAILABLE FIREFIGHTER IS ON HAND AND WILL REMAIN IN PLACE THROUGH THIS EVENT.

FIREFIGHTERS CONTINUE TO POUR INTO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO BOLSTER OUR FIREFIGHTING CAPABILITIES.

ANCHOR: 16 PEOPLE ARE NOW REPORTED TO HAVE DIED IN THE FIRES, WITH ANOTHER 16 MISSING.

OFFICIALS SAY THE NUMBERS WILL UNDOUBTEDLY GO HIGHER.

AERIAL FOOTAGE OF THE PALISADES FIRE TODAY, STILL ONLY 11% CONTAINED, SHOWS WIDESPREAD DEVASTATION.

CHARRED REMAINS ARE ALL THAT IS LEFT OF THOUSANDS OF STRUCTURES.

THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF SAYS THAT IS ONE REASON RESIDENTS ARE NOT BEING ALLOWED BACK INTO THE AREAS TO CHECK ON THEIR HOMES.

>> IN DRIVING AROUND SOME OF THESE AREAS, THEY ARE LITERALLY LOOKING LIKE WAR ZONES.

THERE ARE DOWNED POWER POLES, ELECTRIC WIRES, THERE ARE STILL SOME SMOLDERING FIRES.

WE WANT TO GET YOU BACK INTO YOUR HOMES BUT WE CANNOT ALLOW THAT UNTIL IT IS SAFE FOR YOU TO DO SO.

ANCHOR: SAFETY IS ALSO A FACTOR IN DECIDING WHAT SCHOOLS MAY REOPEN.

THE 500,000 STUDENT LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IS THE SECOND LARGEST IN THE NATION.

ALL OF ITS CAMPUSES HAVE BEEN CLOSED SINCE THURSDAY.

THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DISTRICT, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN YOU MAY BE ABLE TO REOPEN?

>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL OF THE FACTORS.

KEY TO US IS CONTAINMENT OF THE FIRES.

THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT IS THE QUALITY OF AIR INDEX ACROSS OUR JURISDICTION.

CONDITIONS HAVE IMPROVED BUT WE KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN DYNAMIC AND UNSTABLE.

WE HAVE INSPECTED AND ASSESSED ALL 1000 CAMPUSES.

WE ARE ENGAGED IN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR CLEANING, REMOVAL OF DUST, AND REPLACEMENT OF AIR-CONDITIONED FILTERS BASED ON NEED.

THAT WILL ALL BE COMPLETED BY TONIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE READY TO BE OPEN.

THE HEALTH AND SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF OUR WORKFORCE AND STUDENTS ARE OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY.

ANCHOR: HOW MANY OF THOSE CAMPUSES HAVE BEEN BURNED OR DAMAGED?

>> AT THIS POINT WE HAVE IMPACTS TO THREE SCHOOLS.

A COUPLE OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE PALISADES COMMUNITY.

THEY HAVE BEEN EITHER TOTALLY OR NEARLY COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY THE FIRES.

I WAS ON SITE AS THE FIRES WERE RAGING AND UNFORTUNATELY THEY WILL NEED A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT.

PALISADES HIGH SCHOOL, A SCHOOL WITH OVER 2000 STUDENTS, WAS PARTIALLY DAMAGED.

IT SUSTAINED HEAVY FIRE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CLOSE TO 3000 STUDENTS IMPACTED BY THE FIRES.

IN ADDITION TO THOSE SCHOOLS, WE HAVE SEVEN SCHOOLS CURRENTLY UNDER MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDERS.

WE DO NOT ANTICIPATE THAT THOSE SCHOOLS WILL, ONLINE IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

ANCHOR: YOU HAVE STUDENTS, STAFF, FACULTY, MANY OF THE DISPLACED BECAUSE OF THE FIRES AND EVACUATIONS.

HOW BIG A CHALLENGE DOES THAT PRESENT IN GETTING STUDENTS TO SCHOOL AND STAFF AND FACULTY BEING ABLE TO GET TO THE SCHOOLS?

>> YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

WE ARE SURVEYING THE WORKFORCE TO DETERMINE THE ACTUAL IMPACT TO OUR WORKFORCE.

SPECIFIC TO INDIVIDUALS WHO LOST THEIR HOMES AND ALSO THOSE WHO WERE EVACUATED.

WE BELIEVE THAT NUMBER IS AROUND 700.

IT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT LESS.

AS EVACUATION ORDERS CONTINUE TO BE LIFTED.

THAT IS DEFINITELY A CONCERN.

THAT IS WHY CONSTANT COMMUNICATION IS IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE MADE SOME ARRANGEMENTS TO PROVIDE IMPACTED MEMBERS OF OUR WORKFORCE FOR FREE DAYS TO RESUME NORMALCY IN THEIR LIVES.

RECOGNIZING THE CHALLENGES THEY ARE FACING.

WE WANT TO CONNECT THEM TO HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.

CONSIDERING THE SIZE OF OUR WORKFORCE, THE AREA OF IMPACT HAS REALLY NARROWED SIGNIFICANTLY THOSE HAVE BEEN DEEPLY IMPACTED.

ANCHOR: SCHOOLS ARE NOT JUST PLACES OF EDUCATION.

YOU HAVE STUDENTS WHO RELY ON THEM FOR MEALS.

PARENTS RELY ON AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES FOR CHILD CARE.

SINCE HAVE YOU BEEN DEALING WITH THAT?

>> THROUGH THE FIRST TWO DAYS OF CLOSURE, WE HAD EIGHT FEEDING CENTERS FOR GRAB AND GO NUTRITION.

85% OF OUR STUDENTS LIVE AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL AND THEY DEPEND ON THOSE MEALS.

ANCHOR: OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH ALL OF YOU IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT.

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