Santa Maria-area schools to close Monday due to Thomas Fire

Santa Maria-area schools will be closed Monday in response to the Thomas Fire, Noozhawk.com reported.

Santa Maria-Bonita, Santa Maria Joint Union High, Orcutt Union and Guadalupe Union school districts are closing Monday, according to Noozhawk reporter Janene Scully.

“We’ve not done this in my tenure in the district,” said Santa Maria-Bonita spokeswoman Maggie White, who has worked for the district for 21 years. “(It’s) very unusual.”

Officials, citing poor air quality, said all members of the district’s staff are advised to stay home as well, and district superintendents will update their communities daily as the week progresses, Scully reported.

St. Joseph High School in Orcutt also announced it would close Monday. Lompoc Unified School District will also be closed Monday.

Lucia Mar Unified School District, in the southern part of San Luis Obispo County, said Sunday evening that schools would remain open Monday but would be operating on a “rainy-day schedule” to limit exposure to the air.

For direct updates, check with school districts.

This story was originally published December 10, 2017 at 5:54 PM with the headline "Santa Maria-area schools to close Monday due to Thomas Fire."