December 24, 2020 - CLOVIS, Calif., - With the recent change in weather conditions, Fire Officials with the Sierra National Forest are declaring the Creek Fire 100 percent contained.

The Creek Fire started the evening of September 4, 2020 in the Big Creek drainage burning an unprecedented 379,895 acres before being contained on December 24, 2020.

Due to the severity of the fire, many hazard trees now exist in areas where the Creek Fire burned. Hazard trees along roadways, trails and in developed recreational areas can pose a risk to public safety. Falling trees and large limbs are becoming more and more prominent in the forest as hazard trees that have been in place for extended periods, become increasingly unstable. Active forest management measures remain in progress addressing the hazards caused by the Creek Fire. Situational awareness of the locations and conditions on the Forest by all members of the public is critical, to include avoiding areas where exposure to hazard trees could occur, and those areas that remain under a Forest closure order.

Because of the many hazards that remain, the Sierra – Creek Forest Order No. 05-15-00-20-22 maintains closure of the Creek Fire burned area, providing some access for recreation outside of this zone.

For further information on the decision for the remaining closure, please go to the more detailed justification that can be found at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xAbm9.

The current order is in effect through January 6th, 2021 where it will be reassessed. It is the intent of forest leadership at the conclusion of this order to open more general areas of the forest while focusing the remaining closure on specific roads and improved recreational areas that are not yet safe to utilize.

For further information regarding the Sierra National Forest and recreational activities please contact the High Sierra Ranger District office in Prather, Calif. at 559-855-5355; the Bass Lake Ranger District in North Fork, Calif. at 559-877-2218; or the Forest Supervisors Office in Clovis, Calif. at 559-297-0706.

Source & photo credit: USFS