Los Padres National Forest officials announced that effective Aug. 26 Level IV fire restrictions will be enacted throughout the forest. That means wood and charcoal fires are prohibited everywhere in Los Padres—even in sites designated for campfire use. Such sites will still allow for the operation of portable stoves and lanterns, assuming they’re not powered by wood fuel and that the operator has a valid California Campfire Permit.
The new tier of restrictions also crack down on recreational target shooting (with exceptions for certain permit holders and hunters), smoking, fireworks, and operating a combustion engine without a spark-arresting device.
A release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture notes that violators will be subject to a $5,000 fine, six months in jail, or both, and may be on the hook to pay for any necessary firefighting.
For more information, visit fs.usda.gov/lpnf.
This article appears in Aug 28 – Sep 4, 2014.