MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – A year and a half after the destructive Ranch fire, officials are opening up more portions of the Mendocino National Forest.
Forest Supervisor Ann Carlson has issued Forest Order No. 08-20-02 for the Ranch fire area which opens more trails and campgrounds and continues the temporary closure of selected trails and campgrounds until more fire hazards can be removed.
The new closure is effective from Jan. 29, until Dec. 31, 2020.
Most of the road system and trails in the Ranch fire area have been evaluated and hazards have been removed, officials said.
Forest Order No. 08-20-02 opens the majority of OHV trails on the Grindstone Ranger District as well as Pine Mountain Lookout and Bear Creek campground on the Upper Lake Ranger District.
However, officials said numerous hazards still exist within the general forest, along many roads and trails and in campgrounds.
“Due to the hard work of Forest Service employees and volunteers there are now many fire impacted areas that are safe for the public to enjoy and I feel it is important to reopen access to public lands where we can,” Supervisor Carlson said. “We are continuing to remove hazards such as dead standing trees, exposed rebar in trail treads, and stump holes on trails in order to reopen the remaining trails and campgrounds.”
Carlson added, “Although the end date for Order 08-20-02 is Dec. 31, 2020, we are working hard to reasonably reduce risks to the public and reopen areas as soon as possible.”
Forest Order 08-20-02, including the order, map and list of closed trails and facilities is posted on the forest website.
Mendocino National Forest issues new forest order for Ranch fire area; more trails and campgrounds open
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