Several lightning-sparked fires in the area have caused the U.S. Forest Service to close a portion of the Los Padres National Forest in Northern Santa Barbara County.
The “Lightning Complex Fires” started on Aug. 15 in a remote area of Los Padres National Forest, approximately 18 miles east of Santa Maria. As of press time, the fires had burned more than 250 acres and were not yet contained.
Santa Barbara County reported that the closure is in effect until the fires are suppressed, and prohibited all public entry to national forest lands, trails, roads, and recreation sites within the closed area. The closure doesn’t, however, affect private property.
Areas closed due to the fires include the northernmost portion of the San Rafael Wilderness, north of the Sisquoc River, and west of Water Canyon. It also includes all other national forest lands west and north of the San Rafael Wilderness, between the Sisquoc River and Highway 166.
The Colson Canyon, La Brea Canyon, Pine Canyon, and Buckhorn Ridge areas have also been closed. As a result, the following campgrounds are off limits: Barrel Springs, Alejandro, Colson, Bear, Wagon Flat, Lazy, Horseshoe Spring, Kerry, and Brookshire.
The U.S. Forest Service has also closed Preisker Park in Santa Maria for use as an incident command post. The park has been closed since Aug. 15 and is expected to remain closed until the fires are contained and officials no longer need the facilities. Forest Service staff could not estimate an exact date for the park to re-open.
The Forest Service is using Preisker Park for offices, medical trailers, a kitchen, showers, a fuel depot, and overnight sleeping accommodations for some of the 500 firefighters working on the blaze.
Members of the public who have rented facilities at Preisker Park have worked with the city to find alternate locations. Anyone with questions regarding future reservations at the park are encouraged to contact the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department at 925-0951, Ext. 260.
Miranda Pine Campground and Sierra Madre Ridge Road remain open.
For more information about the fires, including a map of the closure area, contact the U.S. Forest Service offices at 968-6640 or visit the national incident Web site at www.inciweb.org.
This article appears in Aug 21-28, 2008.