FOREST SERVICE CLOSES SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NATIONAL FORESTS (UPDATED 10/1)
SCM ALERT🚨, Mon Sep 07 2020, 11:22AM


The USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region has revised closure orders and fire prohibitions in California. These decisions will continue to be evaluated daily.

The revisions include:

Easing fire restrictions – Propane and gas stove use is now permitted on developed recreation sites on National Forests in California. Developed recreation sites are defined as areas which have been improved or developed for recreation such as campgrounds and day use sites.
Forest Closures – Six Rivers and Klamath National Forests are no longer part of the regional closure orders but may have local restrictions. Check the websites, social media accounts, or call those respective forests for specific information on what may be opening.
Seven National Forests (NF) in California remain closed: Angeles NF, Cleveland NF, Los Padres NF, Inyo NF, San Bernardino NF, Sequoia NF, and Sierra NF. This decision will continue to be reviewed daily, taking fire and weather conditions into account.

Eleven National Forests may be open to varying degrees. Visitors should contact the following National Forests for more information on their status: Eldorado NF, Klamath NF, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Lassen NF, Mendocino NF, Modoc NF, Plumas NF, Shasta-Trinity NF, Six Rivers NF, Stanislaus NF, and Tahoe NF. For additional questions, please contact your local National Forest.

"We understand how important access to national forests is to our visitors,” said Randy Moore, Regional Forester for the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region. “As we evaluate fire and weather conditions on a daily basis, we will continue to make adjustments to ensure safe visitation. Our aim continues to prevent any new fires on the landscape."

If you do intend to visit a National Forest that is open to visitors, we continue to recommend that you not travel long distances to recreate. If you or anyone in your household is feeling sick, please remain at home and plan your trip for another time. All visitors should practice self-sufficiency during your visits to national forests. Recreating responsibly will help ensure that expanded access to recreational facilities, services, and opportunities continues. Responsible recreation practices should be maintained at all times, including:

Maintaining at least six feet distancing from others
Do not gather in groups and please follow the latest guidance from officials
Communicate with others as you pass. Alert trail users of your presence and step aside to let others pass
Pack out your trash and leave with everything you bring in and use.
All services may not be available, so please plan accordingly.
The Forest Service manages 18 National Forests in the Pacific Southwest Region, which encompasses over 20 million acres across California, and assists State and Private forest landowners in California, Hawaii and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. National forests supply 50 percent of the water in California and form the watershed of most major aqueducts and more than 2,400 reservoirs throughout the state. For more information, visit [Click Here].

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Forest Service Temporarily Closes Southern California National Forests, Adds Prohibitions in Others

FORESTS IMPACTED BY THE CLOSURE ORDER ARE: Stanislaus National Forest, Sierra National Forest, Sequoia National Forest, Inyo National Forest, Los Padres National Forest, Angeles National Forest, San Bernardino National Forest, and Cleveland National Forest.


VALLEJO, Calif., September 7, 2020—Most of California remains under the threat of unprecedented and dangerous fire conditions with a combination of extreme heat, significant wind events, dry conditions, and firefighting resources that are stretched to the limit. Due to these conditions, the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region is announcing the following temporary closures and fire restrictions to provide for public safety and reduce the potential for human caused fire starts. They will go into effect at 5:00 pm Pacific Standard Time on Monday, September 7, 2020, and will be re-evaluated daily as conditions change.

Closure of the following National Forests: Stanislaus National Forest, Sierra National Forest, Sequoia National Forest, Inyo National Forest, Los Padres National Forest, Angeles National Forest, San Bernardino National Forest, and Cleveland National Forest.
Prohibition of the use of any ignition source on all National Forest System lands (campfires, gas stoves, etc.) throughout California.
Closure of all developed campgrounds and day-use sites on National Forests in California.
“The wildfire situation throughout California is dangerous and must be taken seriously. Existing fires are displaying extreme fire behavior, new fire starts are likely, weather conditions are worsening, and we simply do not have enough resources to fully fight and contain every fire,” said Randy Moore, Regional Forester for the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region. “We are bringing every resource to bear nationally and internationally to fight these fires, but until conditions improve, and we are confident that National Forest visitors can recreate safely, the priority is always to protect the public and our firefighters. With these extreme conditions, these temporary actions will help us do both.”

An example of extreme fire behavior is the Creek Fire on the Sierra National Forest which began on Friday Sep. 4th and grew rapidly on Saturday, Sep. 5th. The fire made a 15-mile run in a single day and burned 36,000 acres, prompting evacuations and life saving measures. The California National Guard evacuated at least 200 people from Wagner Mammoth Pool Campground and assessed them for medical needs.

The Forest Service thanks our partners and the public for their cooperation and understanding of this monumental fire threat. It is critical that all Californians and national forest visitors follow these important closures and restrictions for their own safety and the safety of our firefighters.

The Forest Service manages 18 National Forests in the Pacific Southwest Region, which encompasses over 20 million acres across California, and assists forest landowners in California, Hawaii and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. National forests supply 50 percent of the water in California and form the watershed of most major aqueducts and more than 2,400 reservoirs throughout the state. For more information, visit [Click Here].



Re: FOREST SERVICE CLOSES SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NATIONAL FORESTS (UPDATED 10/1)
springvalley, Wed Sep 09 2020, 08:33PM

This next weekend will be critical - with the forest closed - how will it be enforced and patrolled? Because there will be a metric ton of "They don't mean MEEEEE" still coming up and heading to the forest...

Re: FOREST SERVICE CLOSES SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NATIONAL FORESTS (UPDATED 10/1)
SCM ALERT🚨, Tue Sep 15 2020, 09:30PM

THE US FOREST SERVICE HAS EXTENDED THE STATE FOREST CLOSURE FOR ANOTHER WEEK. NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH AT LEAST SEPTEMBER 21st.

(Will likley be extended further out) Forest service is monitoring the situation day to day.