Access to Sequoia National Forest Temporarily Closed

U.S. Forest Service

Sequoia National Forest Giant Sequoia National Monument

1839 S. Newcomb Street

Porterville, CA 93257

Web: https://www.fs.usda.gov/sequoia/

September 8, 2020

Media Contact: Alicia Embrey

alicia.embrey@usda.gov

Access to Sequoia National Forest Temporarily Closed

Access to Sequoia National Forest temporarily closed to the public as of, Monday, September 7, at 5 p.m., due to the extreme fire behavior throughout California. According to the Regional Emergency Forest Closure Order, developed and dispersed camping, day-use areas, wilderness areas, forest roads, and trails are closed to the public. This is a short-term closure that will be re-evaluated daily as conditions change.

According to the closure order the following is prohibited within the Sequoia National Forest:

• Going into or being upon National Forest System lands

• Being on a National Forest System road

• Being on a National Forest System trail

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.

The closure is due to the extremely dangerous wildfire situation throughout California. Existing fires are displaying extreme fire behavior, new fire starts are likely, weather conditions are worsening. Fire restrictions have elevated to prohibiting all ignition sources, including campfires and propane or gel-fuel stoves.

An example of the extreme fire behavior can be seen from the Creek Fire on the Sierra National Forest. The fire made a 15-mile run and burned 36,000 acres in 24 hours. The California National Guard air evacuated more than 200 people from a forest campground.

The potential for new fire starts, and extreme behavior is very high over the next 3 days as a result of significant weather conditions. Throughout northern and southern California, hot, dry, windy, and unstable conditions, with temperatures 15 to 20 degrees above normal, are expected. Winds throughout northern California are expected to average 25 to 40 mph, and there is the potential for gusts of 50 mph or higher along ridgelines and aligned valleys. In southern California, winds are expected to average 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

Understand this is done for extremely critical conditions, and we ask the public's assistance in observing this short-term closure.

Stay informed, follow our webpage at www.fs.usda.gov/sequoia, Facebook at #SequoiaNF, Twitter at @sequoiaforest or SequoiaNF OnCell app or email us at SM.FS.SequoiaNF@usda.gov.