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.
1. 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.
2. Prohibition of the use of any ignition source on all National Forest System lands (campfires, gas stoves, etc.) throughout California.
3. 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 to 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.
News Release
September 7, 2020
Media Contact: Jonathan Groveman
(707) 562-8995
jonathan.groveman@usda.gov
U.S. Forest Service
Pacific Southwest Region
1323 Club Drive
Vallejo, CA 94591
Web: www.fs.usda.gov/r5
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
Regional Order No. 20-06
USDA Forest Service
Pacific Southwest Region
Emergency Fire Restrictions
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 551 and 36 C.F.R. 261.50(a), and to provide for public safety and protect
natural resources, the following acts are prohibited on National Forest System lands within the
Pacific Southwest Region. This Order is effective from September 7, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific
Time, through September 14, 2020.
1. Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire.
36 C.F.R. 261.52(a).
2. Smoking. 36 C.F.R. 261.52(c).
Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:
1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails,
or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this
Order.
2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting
force in the Performance of an official duty.
These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions contained in 36 C.F.R. Part 261,
Subpart A.
A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an
individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.
16 U.S.C. 551 and 18 U.S.C. 3559, 3571, and 3581.
Done at Vallejo, California, this 7th day of September 2020.
United States Department of Agriculture
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 www.fs.usda.gov/R5.
Regional Order No. 20-07
USDA Forest Service
Pacific Southwest Region
Emergency Forest Closure
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 551 and 36 C.F.R. 261.50(b), and to provide for public safety and protect
natural resources, the following acts are prohibited on National Forest System lands within the
Pacific Southwest Region. This Order is effective from September 7, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific
Time, through September 14, 2020.
1. Going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the National Forests
listed below.
a. Inyo National Forest
b. Sierra National Forest
c. Sequoia National Forest
d. Stanislaus National Forest
e. Los Padres National Forest
f. Angeles National Forest
g. San Bernardino National Forest
h. Cleveland National Forest
36 C.F.R. 261.52(e).
2. Being on a National Forest System road within the National Forests listed below.
a. Inyo National Forest
b. Sierra National Forest
c. Sequoia National Forest
d. Stanislaus National Forest
e. Los Padres National Forest
f. Angeles National Forest
g. San Bernardino National Forest
h. Cleveland National Forest
36 C.F.R. 261.54(e).
3. Being on a National Forest System trail within the National Forests listed below.
a. Inyo National Forest
b. Sierra National Forest
c. Sequoia National Forest
d. Stanislaus National Forest
e. Los Padres National Forest
f. Angeles National Forest
g. San Bernardino National Forest
h. Cleveland National Forest
36 C.F.R. 261.55(a).
Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:
1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails,
or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this
Order
2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting
force in the Performance of an official duty.
3. Persons with a Forest Service non-special-use written authorization to
conduct non-recreational activities, such as harvesting timber or forest
products, or grazing livestock.
4. Owners or lessees of land, to the extent necessary to access their land.
5. Residents, to the extent necessary to access their residences.
6. Persons engaged in a business, trade, or occupation are not exempt from the prohibitions
listed above, but may use National Forest System roads to the extent necessary to carry out
their business, trade, or occupation.
These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions contained in 36 C.F.R. Part 261,
Subpart A.
A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an
individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.
16 U.S.C. 551 and 18 U.S.C. 3559, 3571, and 3581.
Done at Vallejo, California, this 7th day of September 2020.
