FIRE DANGER LEVELS IN FOREST TO MOVE HIGHER TO 'EXTREME'.Byline: JUDY O'ROURKE Staff Writer The U.S. Forest Service plans next week to ratchet up the fire danger level in the Angeles National Forest The Angeles National Forest (ANF) was established by executive order on December 20, 1892 as the San Gabriel Timberland Reserve. It covers over 2,600 km² (650,000 acres) and is located in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, just north of the metropolitan area of Los to extreme -- one notch below its highest warning -- in hopes of curbing visitors from accidentally sparking fires in the bone-dry woods. Hot summer days coupled with a lack of rain warrant the added precautions, the agency says. "It's the whole 'Know before you go' concept," said agency spokeswoman Sherry Rollman. "So they don't show up to have a good afternoon and find they can't use something they brought, and it impacts their enjoyment of their visit." Several fires under 10 acres each have erupted this season in the 650,000-acre Angeles Forest, but no homes or lives have been threatened, Rollman said. But in the Los Padres National Forest Los Padres National Forest is a forest located in southern and central California, which includes most of the mountainous land along the California coast from Ventura to Monterey, extending inland. Elevations range from sea level to 8,831 feet. , which spans some 1.75 million acres from Ventura County to Big Sur Big Sur Scenic region along the Pacific coast of California, U.S. It comprises a ruggedly beautiful stretch of seacoast 100 mi (160 km) long. Popular with tourists and naturalists, it extends southward from Carmel to the Hearst Castle at San Simeon. , the tenacious Zaca Fire The Zaca Fire is a wildfire which began burning northeast of Buellton, California, in Santa Barbara County, California. The fire started on July 4, 2007 and by August 31, it had burned over 240,207 acres (0 km) has been burning since July 4. The fire has burned roughly 31,000 acres in Santa Barbara Santa Barbara (săn'tə bär`brə, –bərə), city (1990 pop. 85,571), seat of Santa Barbara co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1850. County and is 80 percent contained, with full containment expected by Aug. 3, said spokeswoman Kathy Good. Homes and ranches were threatened at first, but firefighters contained the flames before they swept eastward into the San Rafael wilderness The San Rafael Wilderness is a wilderness area in the mountains of north central Santa Barbara County, California, USA. It is completely contained within the Los Padres National Forest, and is north of the city of Santa Barbara and east of Santa Maria. area. More than 600,000 acres around the fire have been closed to visitors, but firefighters' progress battling the blaze bodes well for nature lovers. "The Forest Service plans to reduce the size of the closure July 27 because of lessening danger," Good said. This past year has been the driest on record for most of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County, where a record-low 3.21 inches fell during the season ending June 30. The National Weather Service works closely with the Forest Service, but the weather agency has not issued a red flag watch or warning because weather conditions don't warrant it, officials said. The agency monitors dry brush conditions, humidity, wind speed and the potential for dry lightning. As of Aug. 1, visitors to the Angeles will be barred from building wood, charcoal or kerosene-based fires, smoking outdoors and setting off fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to . Propane and jelled gas stoves may be used, but only with a California Campfire permit. Those riding off-road vehicles or wielding chain saws must use Forest Service-approved spark arresters. For more information on fire restrictions, see visit www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles or www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres. judy.orourke@dailynews.com (661) 257-5255 |
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