The Emerson Los Angeles building was “preemptively evacuated” Wednesday night as a precaution against the growing wildfire in the Hollywood Hills, President Jay Bernhardt said in a community-wide email Thursday afternoon.

President Bernhardt and several students and staff members relocated to a downtown Los Angeles hotel overnight “out of an abundance of caution,” the email said, until the evacuation order for the area was lifted Thursday morning. ELA will remain operating remotely for the next two days as a precaution in order to prioritize the health and safety of students and staff, he wrote, and spring semester move-in is still scheduled as planned. Housing and Residential Education staff are available to assist those returning to Boston experiencing flight cancellations and are expecting a later move-in date, Dean of Campus Life Christie Anglade wrote in a separate community-wide email.

“Our hearts go out to everyone affected directly or indirectly by these tragic circumstances, and we are grateful for the heroic work of our first responders,” President Bernhardt wrote.

The Sunset Fire, located north of the ELA campus, is one of several wildfires that ignited across Southern California this week, forcing evacuations between Runyon Canyon and Wattles Park. The wildfires have collectively resulted in at least five fatalities and more than 130,000 people remain under evacuation orders.

President Bernhardt commended ELA’s Tim Chang, associate vice president and chief operating officer, and Chad Hagan Myers, assistant dean of students, for their leadership during the evacuation, along with other staff members: “Their commitment to protecting our community was extraordinary,” he wrote.

Those seeking support are encouraged to contact the Emerson Wellness Center, UWill counseling services, the Center for Spiritual Life, the Healing and Advocacy Collective, and the Employee Assistance Program.