Stanislaus National Forest: Cherry Lake - Credit: USDA
July 23, 2022 - SONORA, Calif. — In an effort to provide for public safety and protect natural resources, the Stanislaus National Forest has implemented temporary fire restrictions in areas designated as moderate fire hazard areas. This order goes into effect July 25, 2022 and will be in place until Dec. 31, 2022.
The Forest has decided to enter moderate fire hazard fire restrictions based on predicted weather conditions and historic drought conditions has resulted in the need for restricting potential fire causing activities of persons in the moderate fire hazard area.
“As we get further into the summer season and weather conditions continue to trend hotter and dryer, we feel this is the appropriate action to protect our natural resources and the communities we serve,” said Acting Forest Supervisor, Beth Martinez.
Specifically, the current restriction prohibits:
- Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire except in developed recreation sites listed on the attached maps.
- Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, within a developed recreation site noted in the attached maps, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
- Welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame.
These restrictions are believed to be the most immediate and effective method to reduce the potential for loss of life and property, and to protect the physical, biological, and cultural resources of the forest from fire.
The full order is available on the Stanislaus National Forest website with maps of the impacted areas under fire restrictions as well as the exemptions from the order- https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1045071.pdf
The Forest Service manages 18 National Forests in the Pacific Southwest Region, which encompasses over 20 million acres across California, and assists State and private forest landowners in California, Hawaii and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. National forests supply 50 percent of the water in California and form the watershed of most major aqueducts and more than 2,400 reservoirs throughout the state. For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/R5.
Source: Stanislaus National Forest
