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Date: October 13, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Forest Service Reduces Closure in Los Padres and Angeles National Forests

The Forest Service today announced that it has significantly reduced the size of the closure surrounding the Day Fire, but that some areas of the Angeles and Los Padres National Forests will remain closed to public entry until further notice. The closure is needed because of ongoing fire control and rehabilitation activities and hazards associated with the Day Fire, as well as concerns about the potential for new fires in extremely dry areas in northern Ventura and southern Kern counties.

“The vegetation on the Mt. Pinos Ranger District is extraordinarily dry,
and if we get new fires I’m afraid we could see the kind of extreme fire
behavior we experienced when the Day Fire advanced on Lockwood Valley,” said District Ranger, Tom Kuekes. “The emergency closure will help protect forest visitors and the communities of Lebec, Frazier Park, Lake of the Woods, Pinon Pine Estates, Pine Mountain Club, Lockwood Valley and Camp Scheideck, until we get a significant change in the weather.”

The closure encompasses a large portion of the State of California’s “D13
zone” for deer hunting. Deer hunting season in zone D-13 opens on October 14. Deer tags for zone D13 may be used in zones D11 and D15, according to the California Department of Fish and Game. Additional information about deer hunting zones and regulations is available on the Internet at www.dfg.ca.gov .

The areas of Los Padres NF that will remain closed until further notice
include the following:

n Nordhoff Ridge Road;

n All areas of the Sespe Wilderness except lands west of and including the Gene Marshall—Piedra Blanca National Recreation Trail, and all areas south of and including Forest Road 6N06 (aka Pine Mountain Road and Reyes Peak Road) and Reyes Peak Trail (Forest Trail 23W04);

n All NF lands east of Highway 33 from its junction with Forest Road
6N06 (aka Pine Mountain Road and Reyes Peak Road) to the northernmost boundary of the national forest in northern Ventura and Kern counties.

Areas of Los Padres NF that will reopen on October 13 include the
following:

n All lands within Los Padres NF west of Highway 33;

n All NF lands west of and including the Gene Marshall—Piedra Blanca
National Recreation Trail between the Piedra Blanca Trailhead near Rose
Valley and Haddock Camp on Pine Mountain Ridge;

n The Rose Valley Recreation Area;

n The road and campgrounds along Pine Mountain Ridge to Reyes Peak
Trailhead.

Areas of the Angeles NF that will remain closed include, but are not
limited to, the following:

n Sections of shoreline along the west side of Pyramid Lake within the burn area;

n Frenchman’s Flat Day Use Area;

n Piru Ponds;

n Los Angeles County Road Highway 99 (in cooperation with Los Angeles
County).

Areas of the Angeles NF that will reopen on October 13, include the
following:

n Most areas on the east side of Pyramid Lake including Emigrant
Landing. However, because of the close proximity to the Day Fire Burn
Areas, possible periodic closures should be expected due to weather and
other factors. It is highly recommended that you “know before you go,” and call ahead before finalizing your plans to visit the area.

A description and map of the revised closure will be posted later today, at Forest Service offices and on the Internet at the following locations:
Inciweb at www.inciweb.org, and the Los Padres NF website at
www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres

Forest visitors are reminded that campfires and charcoal barbecue fires are prohibited, until further notice, in all areas of Los Padres NF except facilities managed by concessionaires.

For more information about the Day Fire Closure in Los Padres NF, please
contact the Ojai Ranger Station at (805) 646-4348, or Chuchupate Ranger
Station, in Frazier Park, at (661) 245-3731, or the Forest Supervisor’s
Office in Goleta at (805) 968-6640.

For information regarding the Day Fire Emergency Closure in the Angeles NF, please contact the Santa Clara – Mojave Rivers Ranger District at (661) 296-9710, or the Forest Supervisor’s Office in Arcadia at (626) 574-1613.

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