Closure to be Lifted at 6:00 AM , August 22
Incident: Santa Lucia Lightning Com Wildland Fire
Released: 8/21/2008
At 6:00 a.m. Friday, the Forest Service will reopen a large area of Los Padres National Forest in northern Santa Barbara County that has been closed to public entry because of several wildfires. The emergency closure encompasses over 100,000 acres and has been in effect since August 16.
The five lightning-caused fires that caused the emergency closure ignited on August 15, in a remote area of the national forest about 20 miles east of Santa Maria. The fires burned a total of 244 acres and will be fully contained later today.
In Monterey County, Los Padres National Forest lands remain closed to public entry with the exception of three campgrounds and several day use areas along the Big Sur Coast. The closure encompasses more than 332,000 acres and was imposed because of the Indians Fire which started on June 8, followed by the Basin Complex Fire which started on June 21. The two fires together burned over 240,000 acres and continue to smolder in several areas. The Forest Service will reevaluate the Monterey Ranger District closure sometime next week.
Forest visitors are reminded that fire restrictions are in effect throughout Los Padres National Forest. Campfires and charcoal barbecues are strictly prohibited in all areas of the forest, including developed sites.
For more information, visit the "Current Conditions" section of the Los Padres National Forest website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres. Information also is available at Forest Service offices in King City at (831) 385-5434, Santa Maria at (805) 925-9538, and Goleta at (805) 968-6640.
