RENO-- Nearly all Washoe County School District schools are closed on Friday, Nov. 18 as the region’s emergency agencies respond to the Caughlin Fire and WCSD continues to provide support to those agencies.

Schools in Incline, Natchez and Gerlach are the only exceptions and will remain open.

“Our goal is always to keep our schools open. However, our first priority is always the safety of our students, their families and District staff. When we get requests like we did this morning from the emergency agencies in our region asking for assistance and to close our schools, then public safety becomes a priority,” Superintendent Heath Morrison said. “We are also acting as a resource for emergency responders and will continue to do that throughout this tragic situation.”

Reno High School and Galena High School were being used as evacuation centers for any family being forced out of their home due to the fire. WCSD School Police are assisting with evacuations and WCSD counselors are also on standby to provide support to students and families.

Truckee Meadows Community College Center and the Edison facility are closed because of smoke, but the other TMCC sites are still open.

J. Kyle Dalpe, director of the Institutional Advancement Office at Truckee Meadows Community College, said "Students affected by the fire should contact their instructor if they cannot attend their classes. Faculty and staff who are affected should work with their supervisors."