Due to extreme fire danger, the entire Los Padres National Forest has been closed to the public, a move that may be a first in the history of the forest.
The closure means that the public is not allowed to hike on trails in the forest or drive on its roads. The closure went into effect today and will stay in effect until the extreme fire danger subsides.
Forest Supervisor Peggy Hernandez made the decision to close the forest due to very low fuel moisture levels and firefighting resources being stretched to the limit with more than a dozen fires burning throughout Southern California.
State and county roads through the forest are still open to through traffic. Private property owners within the forest are exempt from the closure.
What’s taking those autumn rains so long, anyway?
My bestest ranger bud of San Bernardino NF called last night to tell me Los Padres, Angeles, Cleveland and San Berdoo NF’s were all closed. Her station (Lytle Creek in San Berdoo) might have been destroyed, they’re not sure yet.
Cross fingers the wind stays down for a couple of days.
I’ve been worried about all those fires Tom…
I’m trying to keep up, news here is limited, and I’ve been distracted by some controversy here.
I know we’ve sent a few of our big water bombers down to help. I hope they get on top of it soon.
DSD
This is nuts. I think it’s kind of extreme to shut down the entire forrest because of fire hazard. Last year they shut down areas that were miles from any fires and left them closed long after the fires had been extinguished. maybe we should close all highways because people are getting into accidents or close all lakes because people are drowning. Let’s hear from some ather people who are tired of being locked out of public land.The forest service closes the Las Padres due to fire hazard’ then it snows and they close it for that. I feel bad about all the fires but the fire hazard is going to be there every year.Are we going to start closing all the national forests every time there is high fire hazard?