California Department of Fish and Wildlife closes 49 sites due to raging wildfires
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Saturday that 49 of its properties will be closed to the public through Monday due to the high danger that wildfires across the state pose to visitors.
The areas are within or near U.S. Forest Service lands. The federal agency closed all of its forests to public use on Wednesday in order to prevent more wildfires.
The CDFW closures include wildlife areas and ecological preserves throughout the state.
“Fire danger is extreme in California currently. Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts are strongly encouraged to check for closures before leaving on any recreational trip,” CDFW officials said in a news release. “CDFW acknowledges that hunting opportunities will be impacted.”
Last week, the Forest Service closed forests in Southern California, closed day-use areas and campgrounds statewide and restricted the use of camp fires and cookstoves before extending the closures. Never before had all of California’s national forests been closed at once.
CDFW areas now closed to the public include the Antelope Valley, Truckee River, Smithneck Creek, Hallelujah Junction and Crocker Meadows wildlife areas, plus the Macklin Creek Ecological Reserve, all of which are in or near Tahoe National Forest.
The Fay Canyon, Red Lake and Hope Valley wildlife areas and the Leek Spring Ecological Reserve, all at Eldorado National Forest, are also closed effective immediately.
A full list of CDFW closures can be found here.
This story was originally published September 12, 2020 at 1:32 PM with the headline "California Department of Fish and Wildlife closes 49 sites due to raging wildfires."
