FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – The USDA Forest Service has temporarily closed all California National Forests for public safety.
In a release, the Forest Service said it’s to “better provide public and firefighter safety due to the ongoing California wildfire crisis.”
The Forest Service said it’s intended to limit the number of people on public lands in the event of an emergency — as well as reduce the potential of igniting any new wildfires.
More than 6,800 wildfires have already burned 1.7 million acres of national forest land across California, the Forest Service said.
“Although the potential for large fires and risk to life and property is not new, what is different is that we are facing: (a) record level fuel and fire conditions; (b) fire behavior that is beyond the norm of our experience and models such as large, quick runs in the night; (c) significantly limited initial attack resources, suppression resources, and Incident Command Teams to combat new fire starts and new large fires; and (d) no predicted weather relief for an extended period of time into the late fall. – The U.S. Forest Service
This order means all national forests will be closed throughout the upcoming labor day holiday weekend.
This closure will be in effect from Aug. 31, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. through September 17, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.
Listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern.
