Crime & Safety

RED FLAG WARNING: San Bernardino National Forest Calls in More Firefighters, Aircraft

San Bernardino National Forest officials have called in more personnel and machinery due to the current red flag warning for critical fire weather conditions, a spokesman for the forest said Friday afternoon.

"In preparation for forecasted hot dry weather with Santa Ana winds, the San Bernardino National Forest is bolstering its fire response readiness with additional firefighters, aircraft, and extended patrols," Forest Service spokesman John Miller said in a statement Sept. 27.

The forest covers more than 1,000 square miles in mountain ranges of San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

Fires in and near forest lands so far this season, including the Hathaway, Mountain and Silver fires, have already burned more than 80 square miles near the San Gorgonio Pass. Costs for fighting the three fires in June, July and August have approached $50 million.

"Weather forecasts are calling for an extended period of hot and dry weather, combined with Santa Ana winds, marking the first Santa Ana wind event of the year," Miller said Friday Sept. 27.

In response, forest administrators have extended staffing and brought in additional firefighters from Northern California, Miller said. Additional airtankers have been prepositioned at San Bernardino Tankerbase to supplement forest firefighting resources.

"We are ramping up our resources and staffing to be best prepared for the forecasted weather," Forest Supervisor Jody Noiron said. "As always, we also ask the public to remain vigilant in fire prevention, by being careful and reporting suspicious activities immediately."

Noiron reminded forest visitors to exercise caution "as we have reached the peak of the fire season, with hot weather, low humidity and dry winds typical of this time of the year."

Current fire restriction and guidelines in the San Bernardino National Forest are as follows:

CAMPING - PICNIC - DAY USE

· Developed Campgrounds - Wood and charcoal fires are permitted within agency provided fire rings and campstoves - (See exceptions below for Mountaintop Ranger District)

·  Picnic Areas - Wood and charcoal fires are permitted within agency provided fire rings and campstoves.

· Yellow Post Sites - NO Wood or charcoal fires, Propane and gas stoves only, with a valid California Campfire Permit.

· Walk/hike-in camps on the Mountaintop Ranger District - No wood or charcoal fires at the following sites:

1. Fisherman’s Group Camp west of Green Valley Lake

2. Holcomb PCT Trail Camp north of Green Valley Lake

3. Bench PCT Camp north of Green Valley Lake

4. Little Bear Springs PCT Camp north of Fawnskin

5. Doble PCT Camp north of Baldwin Lake

6. Arraste (Deer Springs) PCT Camp north of Onyx Peak

7. Wildhorse Trail Camp near Sugarloaf Mountain

8. Mission Springs PCT Camp east of Barton Flats

· Campfire permits are required for Propane and gas stoves used outside of developed recreation sites.

· Organizational Camps are subject to Forest Service fire permits.

· Big Tree Cucamonga Forest Road 1N34 is closed to motorized vehicles at Lytle Creek Road during wind events.

· Sapphire Falls in Cucamonga Canyon is closed to human entry and all use.

RECREATIONAL SHOOTING – HUNTING

· 
Recreational shooting is limited to Public Shooting Ranges operated by concessionaire or special use permits only.

· 
Hunting is permitted, subject to California Fish & Wildlife Regulations.

· 
Tracer, armor piercing, steel core, and Teflon ammunitions are always prohibited, as is discharging a firearm at any exploding target.

OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES - GENERATORS – CHAINSAWS

An approved spark arrester is required for any internal combustion engine operated on designated forest routes. These include chainsaws, generators, motorcycles, and off-highway vehicles.

SMOKING

Smoking is limited to enclosed buildings, inside vehicles and developed recreation sites.

FIREWORKS

Fireworks are always prohibited on the San Bernardino National Forest.
 

Fire restrictions and forest regulations are strictly enforced, Miller said. Forest visitors are urged to “Know Before You Go” and call ahead to local Ranger Stations for current conditions and restrictions.

Big Bear Ranger Station & Discovery Center 909-382-2790

Idyllwild Ranger Station (909) 382-2922

Lytle Creek Ranger Station (909) 382-2852

Mill Creek Ranger Station (909) 382-2882

Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument (760) 862-9984

For more info about the San Bernardino National Forest visit www.fs.usda.gov/sbnf.


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