Altadena students return to new campus 1 year after Eaton Fire

ALTADENA, CALIF. (KABC) -- A year after the Eaton Fire destroyed their campus, students and staff at Odyssey Charter School - South in Altadena have returned from winter break to a new school site, marking a hopeful milestone in their recovery.

The fire wiped out most of their old campus, forcing them to borrow other spaces temporarily. Now, students and staff are thrilled to be back in their own, new space.

"I’ve missed them, and I’m happy to see them again," said second grader Aiyah Harris.

"We got the call that the school had also burned down, and that was the biggest shock of all, because that’s not anywhere near where the fire started," said Principal Bonnie Brimecombe.

"I was sad, but my home didn’t burn down," said second grader Emlyn Farnam.

Students were forced to deal with their school being gone.

"I liked that campus, and it was very fun, and it’s a big campus, and I just loved being there," Aiyah said.

"How do you like this new campus?" Eyewitness News reporter David González asked.

"I like it. It’s very big, bigger than I thought it was going to be," she said.

Now, they’ve settled into their new home.

"I can’t believe how it feels. It feels so happy to be sitting in this moment," Brimecombe said.

It’s a moment that reminds them every day of how resilient Odyssey students are.

"We’re so proud to sit here, to be past the anniversary, to have such a big student population still with us, families that... they give us happiness and joy every single day, beefing us back up," Brimecombe said.

Enrollment dropped at Odyssey Charter Schools after the Eaton Fire, but since then, the school has been working on rebuilding its student body and plans to continue enrolling new students throughout the year.