Cleveland National Forest Implements Additional Staffing due to Elevated Fire Conditions

Due to the hot dry offshore winds and tinder-dry conditions the Cleveland National Forest is increasing staffing through Thursday evening in order to augment initial attack capabilities.

“The public needs to be aware of the critical fire conditions throughout Orange, Riverside and San Diego Counties and be mindful of activities that may cause a wildfire,” said Brian Rhodes, CNF Fire Chief. “In the event anyone sees a fire it is crucial they call 911 immediately because every second counts.”

 

Rhodes said although wildfires can occur any time, this is the time of year that has the most potential for catastrophic fire events. Low fuel moisture combined with what is known as Santa Ana winds create the perfect recipe for large fires such as those in 2003 and 2007. The public should always have a plan in case of evacuation for emergency events that includes ensuring you have all prescription medications on hand as well as what to do with livestock and pets.

 

 

About the U.S. Forest Service:

The mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation's clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2 billion per year. The agency has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of the 850 million forested acres within the U.S., of which 100 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live. Learn more at http://www.fs.usda.gov/cleveland

# # #

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.