Closure extended at Los Padres National Forest
MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION) The U.S. Forest Service says it is extending closures and fire prohibitions at nine California National Forests, including Los Padres National Forest. It did not provide a date for reopening.
The Dolan Fire is currently burning in the Los Padres National Forest in the area in and around Ventana Wilderness.
The U.S. Forest services said the decision to extend the closures will be evaluated every day, and fire and weather conditions will be part of that evaluation.
“Continued closures are based on extreme fire conditions, critical limitations of firefighting resources, and to provide for firefighter and public safety,” said Regional Forester Randy Moore. “We understand how important access to the National Forests is to our visitors. Our aim is to prevent any new fires on the landscape.”
The forest closed on Sept.7 due to public safety concerns and to reduce the risk of human-caused fires, and the closure was in effect through Oct. 1. Officials with Los Padres National Forest said they have issued hundreds of citations to people violating the closure.
The Dolan Fire has burned 128,417 acres and is 46% contained. The incident meteorologist is forecasting a change in wind direction, and crews are watching for increased fire behavior in the eastern part of the fire.
