Report: Raging Wildfires Prompt Statewide National Forest Closures (Updated)
UPDATE: Here’s the press release from the Forest Service:
Regional Order No. 21-07 USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region Emergency Forest Closure
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) and (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 supersedes Regional Order No. 21-04 and is effective from August 31, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. through September 17, 2021, at 11:59 p.m.
- Going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the National Forests listed below.
- Tahoe National Forest
- Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
- Plumas National Forest
- Lassen National Forest
- Mendocino National Forest
- Klamath National Forest
- Six Rivers National Forest
- Shasta-Trinity National Forest
- Modoc National Forest
- Cleveland National Forest
- San Bernardino National Forest
- Angeles National Forest
- Los Padres National Forest
- Sequoia National Forest
- Sierra National Forest
- Stanislaus National Forest
- Inyo National Forest
36 C.F.R. § 261.52(e).
- Being on a National Forest System road within the National Forests listed below.
- Tahoe National Forest
- Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
- Plumas National Forest
- Lassen National Forest
- Mendocino National Forest
- Klamath National Forest
- Six Rivers National Forest
- Shasta-Trinity National Forest
- Modoc National Forest
- Cleveland National Forest
- San Bernardino National Forest
- Angeles National Forest
- Los Padres National Forest
- Sequoia National Forest
- Sierra National Forest
- Stanislaus National Forest
- Inyo National Forest
36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e).
3. Being on a National Forest System trail within the National Forests listed below.
- Tahoe National Forest
- Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
- Plumas National Forest
- Lassen National Forest
- Mendocino National Forest
- Klamath National Forest
- Six Rivers National Forest
- Shasta-Trinity National Forest
- Modoc National Forest
- Cleveland National Forest
- San Bernardino National Forest
- Angeles National Forest
- Los Padres National Forest
- Sequoia National Forest
- Sierra National Forest
- Stanislaus National Forest
- Inyo National Forest
All national forests in California closed to visitors. https://t.co/21uOPNLYuc “I do not take this decision lightly but this is the best choice for public safety,” said California’s regional forester, Jennifer M. Eberlien. So many reminders that life is changing. h/t @RyanSabalow
— Dan Morain (@DanielMorain) August 30, 2021
#Caldorfire Echo lake About 10 minutes ago. pic.twitter.com/QCnoxQZx6Q
— Ty KRNV (@TKrnv) August 30, 2021
From The Sacramento Bee: the wildfires that have been and continue to burn throughout the state promoted a two-week closure of all California national forest lands. Here’s more from the newspaper’s report today:
In an announcement Monday, the Forest Service said the closure will extend through at least Sept. 17.
“I have made the difficult decision to temporarily close all (California) National Forests in order to better provide public and firefighter safety due to extreme fire conditions throughout the state, and strained firefighting resources throughout the country,” California’s regional forester, Jennifer M. Eberlien, said in a notice to employees obtained by The Sacramento Bee.
The gridlock on the roads leading out of South Lake Tahoe, which is threatened by the Caldor Fire and under mandatory evacuations, is surreal.
An emergency manager’s nightmare: Gridlock in South Lake Tahoe as residents evacuate the #CaldorFire.
One motorist just told me it’s like this all the way to Kingsbury (about 6 miles away on Hwy 50).
Absolutely zero movement. pic.twitter.com/q3GeB2unHf
— Jason Pohl (@pohl_jason) August 30, 2021
After the city of South Lake Tahoe just went to an evacuation order status, Highway 50 became a parking lot. Traffic is not moving. pic.twitter.com/vhajBnbxwW
— Karl Mondon (@karlmondon) August 30, 2021
Due to the threat of encroaching wildfire flames from the #CaldorFire, the city of South Lake Tahoe is under evacuation order. And the lines are long. Especially on Highway 50. Some residents have said they’ve been in line for two hours. Stay with us for updates @sfchronicle pic.twitter.com/DuK8nvc1yz
— Brontë Wittpenn (@BronteWittpenn) August 30, 2021
Longtime Tahoe area resident Mel Smothers plays his violin while being stuck in 2 hours of eastbound evacuation traffic on Highway 50 after mandatory evacuation orders were issued to all of South Lake Tahoe.
?: @AlvinJornada
Live updates: https://t.co/IM4gpQeODM pic.twitter.com/8D9bkMx8zq— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) August 30, 2021
