SUBJECT:  Impact of the firestorm to physical plant services
                       and operations

This Campus notice is to advise faculty, staff and students of impacts to Campus physical plant services and operations due to the firestorm. At the forefront of our concerns are personal safety, air quality, electricity and water conservation, and Campus clean-up.

The Air Quality Index will remain in the "Unhealthy" category for the next few days due to particulates in the air. The public is encouraged to stay indoors and refrain from physically strenuous activities. Campus academic and research facilities that are "conditioned" are supplied with multi-stage filtration systems that are removing the majority of this soot and airborne debris. However, the filtration system may not remove the smell associated with fires. Media filters are being cleaned and/or replaced as appropriate to ensure positive conditions. Much of this work has been on-going since Sunday and will continue throughout the coming week.

The Campus cogeneration system is providing a majority of the campus power, but we continue to rely on SDG&E power for our peak needs. The SDG&E system has experienced a transmission line failure, so all efforts are needed to reduce electrical consumption. The campus energy management system is automatically reducing air conditioning loads, but voluntary efforts are needed to turn off lights, computers, printers, copiers and other plug-in loads when not absolutely needed.

Water usage at this time is best directed to the firefighters. Because the campus is connected to the same system used by the firefighters, all efforts are needed to reduce UCSD consumption. Please minimize water consumption on Campus and at home.

Soot from the firestorm is causing a cleanliness problem throughout campus. Once the fallout has slowed, Physical Plant Services will resume indoor and outdoor cleaning services. Cleaning of several sensitive areas has already occurred.

Please direct questions, comments and concerns to our Customer Relations/Service Referral Desk at (858) 534-0317.

Your assistance and cooperation are appreciated during this critical time. On behalf of the Auxiliary and Plant Services Team, our collective well wishes are extended to all directly affected by these horrific fires.

                                                Gary Matthews
                                                Assistant Vice Chancellor -
                                                Auxiliary and Plant Services