NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Acting Mendocino National Forest Supervisor Lauren Johnson has issued Forest Order No. 08-20-15 for the August Complex and Ranch fires, which opens the burned areas except for some campgrounds and trails.
The new order is effective Dec. 1, 2020, until Nov. 1, 2021.
The road system and trails in the August Complex/Ranch fire areas have been evaluated, many hazards have been removed and a considerable amount of fire suppression damage has been repaired.
While many hazards have been removed, there is no way to make the fire area entirely safe from all hazards.
Some hazards that visitors may encounter when traveling in the fire area are fire weakened trees falling, limbs dropping, burned-out “stump holes” giving way under you, during wet weather, water or mud building up quickly and large rocks dislodging and rolling without warning.
“It is important to reopen access to public lands where we can,” Johnson said. “However, we need to keep some trails and campgrounds closed as they sustained damage that will take some time to repair. We want visitors to be careful and aware of their surroundings while traveling in the burned area.”
Forest Order 08-20-15, including the order, map and list of closed trails and facilities is posted on the forest website, https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd859571.pdf.