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Trees burning east side of Hwy 41 on Railroad Fire - photo by Gina Clugston

Forest Closure On Bass Lake Ranger District Due To Railroad Fire

CLOVIS – A Forest Closure Order will be implemented in the Sierra National Forest on Tuesday, Sept. 12, on the Bass Lake Ranger District.

This order is deemed necessary to protect public safety as efforts get underway to repair the damage which occurred during the suppression of the Railroad Fire, say Forest Officials.

The Railroad Fire has burned 12,407 acres since Aug. 29, and is 75 percent contained. The purpose of this closure is to provide safety for the public and for the firefighters who are engaged in fire suppression and rehab efforts within the Railroad Fire Closure Area, shown on the map below.

Under Forest Order No. 05-15-51-17-20, Pursuant to 16 USC and 36 CFR 261.50 (a) and (b), it is prohibited to “go into or be upon National Forest System Lands within the Railroad Fire Closure Area.”

“This restriction is necessary for the purposes of ensuring public safety until the wildfire can be managed to protect the public,” say Forest Officials in a statement released today.

“Closure of the fire area is necessary to help ensure that no one is injured within or near the active fire perimeter. All National Forest System roads and trails, within the active fire perimeter will be closed due to fire suppression and rehab activities that create a hazard to the public which includes the falling of hazard trees that were weakened by the fire and the construction and maintenance of fuel breaks.”

This closure will remain in effect until the fire is declared out.

For information on the other Forest closures, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/sierra/.

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