LOS ANGELES—The County of Los Angeles Probation Department activated its Departmental Operations Center in response to the fires across the Southland.

Conditions that are being closely monitored include the Creek Fire’s proximity to the Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall (BJNJH) in Sylmar, the Rye Fire’s proximity to juvenile Camps Scott and Scudder in Santa Clarita, and the Skirball Fire’s proximity to juvenile Camp Gonzales and Campus Kilpatrick in Malibu. No LA County Probation facility is currently within an evacuation zone.

“Every juvenile hall and camp in Los Angeles County has plans in place to safely and securely evacuate and transport juveniles in their custody if the need arises,” said Los Angeles County Chief Probation Officer Terri L. McDonald. “Staff are working around the clock to make sure that we are keeping our employees and clients safe and secure and we are constantly monitoring this rapidly changing situation to provide support to all sites day and night.”

All Probation Department offices and facilities are currently open and operating normally. Probation clients are to continue with their regularly scheduled appointments with their assigned probation officers or probation service providers. The Probation Department is recommending to the courts that juveniles who might be affected by the fire be given a new court date. Probation clients who are impacted by the fires must contact their probation officers immediately, or contact the Probation Information Center Hotline at 1-866-931-2222.

The Los Angeles County Probation Department has also reached out to the Ventura County Probation Department and has offered the use of its facilities should there be a need to evacuate the juvenile facilities in Ventura County.

In an email message to staff, Chief McDonald assured the more than 6,500 Probation Department that the fire conditions are being monitored around the clock via the Department’s emergency operations center staff. She also encouraged staff who might live in or near an evacuation zone to work with their supervisor to make the proper accommodations to ensure that they are able to properly care for their family and themselves.