High Sierra Ranger District and Fresno County Sheriff’s Office to allow temporary entry
to collect belongings and close cabins October 3rd & 4th and 10th & 11th

October 2, 2020 - Prather, CA. - The Sierra National Forest (SNF) High Sierra Ranger District and Fresno County Sheriff’s Office will allow individuals to enter temporarily to collect belongings left behind when evacuated (tents, trailers, boats and gear), and close cabins for the winter.

Due to an overwhelming response the decision has been made to add another weekend to allow individuals affected by the Creek Fire the opportunity to take care of these tasks. Individuals can choose to either enter the weekend of the 3rd & 4th or 10th & 11th, allowing time for plans to be made.

Each day a there will be a set period of time beginning October 3rd & 4th, and again on October 10th & 11th, 2020 allowing those affected by evacuations, and recreational residences to clean out refrigerators, winterize cabins, then move back off the forest.

The SNF will allow roadblock access each of the two days from 7am - 1pm, If individuals arrive after 1pm access will not be permitted. The check-in for these days will be staged at each of the roadblock access points to areas where entry is to be made for that day.

October 3rd & 4th and again on October 10th & 11th, 2020 Access will be allowed by permit to the following locations:

• From 7am – 5pm Access… McKinley Grove to Wishon to Courtright Roads.
• From 7am – 5pm Access… Dinkey and Rock Creek areas
• From 7am – 7pm Access… Huntington Lake and Camp Sierra areas.
• Boat pick up at Huntington Lake Boat Launch – Residents only Saturday, Oct. 3

Sunday October 4th, 2020

• Boat pick up at Huntington Lake Boat Launch Non-residents on Sunday, Oct. 4.

Trash services will not be provided and it will be the responsibility of each party to be prepared to pack out their own trash. Please leave now trace!

The time frames allotted will be strictly enforced, and should be used for the purpose intended, SNF law enforcement along with the sheriff’s office will sweep the area to be sure that no parties are deciding to recreate, loiter, or observe the burned areas of the Creek Fire.

To obtain more information regarding this and the permitting process please go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sierra/home/?cid=fseprd815384, there you will find a page with all forms necessary as well as an email address to forward all requests.

Because of the overwhelming outpouring of emails received, those received after 2pm October 2nd, may not be processed on time.

It is requested that these be filled out the Belongings Retrieval Form as well as the Fresno County HSRD Restricted Access Form 7700-48.

Individuals without an official permit will not be granted access.

These dates will not include the Bass Lake Ranger District, discussions are taking place to put forth a similar plan in the near future. Please standby for further information regarding this next step. Those individuals who submit the forms for the Bass Lake Ranger District will be responded to and informed when the plan is in place.

Source: USFS