Fires raging across Southern California have burned through several schools and destroyed some, though officials are still trying to get a full accounting of the damage.

In the Pasadena Unified School District, five schools in Altadena were “substantially damaged” in the Eaton fire, a preliminary assessment shows.

Also, Palisades Charter Elementary School and Marquez Elementary School were “completely destroyed,” by the Palisades fire, Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said Wednesday evening, Jan. 8. He also said Palisades Charter High School was 30% destroyed.

“We were onsite and could not believe what we were witnessing,” Carvalho said. “We are prepared to relocate those students to provide a continuation of their education services and restore normalcy to those families and those communities.”

In the Pasadena district, Elliot Arts Magnet School, Aveson Charter School, Loma Alta Elementary School and Noyes Elementary School were damaged in the fire, Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco said.

Also, Franklin Elementary School, which closed in 2020, was about 80% damaged, she said.

Muir High School Athletic Director Alfredo Resendiz said in an interview that Franklin Elementary School in Altadena, a mile away from Muir, had been burned down by the Eaton fire. Resendiz said he saw the damage while driving.

Pasadena district schools remain in the path of the fire and could be further damaged, Blanco added.

All district schools will stay closed the rest of the week.

In Los Angeles Unified, officials are working with authorities and emergency response teams to assess the situation and determine the next steps, according to the email. This includes creating plans to minimize disruption to instruction, the spokesperson said. The district announced late Wednesday that all its schools would close Thursday.

The district is looking for funding relief for schools affected by the fires and extreme winds.

A Wednesday Instagram post from Palisades Charter High School said “our beloved campus is currently facing a devastating wildfire that has impacted several areas of the grounds.”

“This is an incredibly difficult time for our entire community, and our hearts are heavy with the destruction and uncertainty we are all experiencing.”

The fire caused significant damage at the high school, the post states. But it also encouraged the community to come together and said the school would be rebuilt.

The post cites “the strength, resilience, and unwavering spirit that you bring to our school … please remember that you are not alone in this journey. We are a community bound by love, support, and shared commitment to one another’s well-being.”

Staff writers Andrea Klick and Fred Robledo contributed to this report.