FIREWORKS PROHIBITED IN MONUMENT AND ON THE FOREST
June 25th, 2014 by Eric Mart
Springville, Calif., June 25, 2014—For Immediate Release As we prepare for the upcoming holiday, Forest officials remind visitors that fireworks, even “safe and sane” are not allowed in Giant Sequoia National Monument or Sequoia National Forest. We have already seen fires spread quickly and consume hundreds of acres on the Forest. It is extremely important that visitors don’t bring fireworks into the Forest.
All developed campgrounds located in the Hume Lake and Western Divide Ranger Districts will be open. In order to ensure a camping spot, advanced reservations are recommended by calling 1-877-444-6777 or on the World Wide Web at www.recreation.gov
Some campsites will not have drinking water this summer due to drought conditions. Rivers, including those in the backcountry, have less water than normal. Please come prepared with drinking water for the duration of your trip.
Campfires and barbecues are only allowed in developed campgrounds or areas designated as exempt from fire restrictions. A list of designated exempt areas can be obtained from Forest Service offices, and on the website www.fs.usda.gov/sequoia
Visitors are allowed to have a portable gas stove or lantern (with a flame on/off switch) outside developed or designated areas with a valid California campfire permit. A campfire permit can be obtained, free of charge, at any Forest Service, CALFIRE, or Bureau of Land Management office or by visiting the Sequoia National Forest website above and downloading a copy of the permit.
Neighboring recreational areas such as Balch Park, operated by Tulare County, and Mountain Home State Forest, operated by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection are open. Please call (559) 539-3896 or (559) 624-7000 for Balch Park or (559) 539-2321 or (559) 539-2855 for Mountain Home State Forest.
Information about the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks can be found at www.nps.gov/seki or by calling (559) 565-3341. The Sierra National Forest can be reached at (559) 297-0706 or www.fs.usda.gov/sierra
Off-highway vehicle use is restricted to designated roads within the Giant Sequoia National Monument. Mountain-bike use is also restricted to designated trails and roads. Trails where mountain-bike use is prohibited are signed. All motorized and mechanized use, such as mountain-bikes, are prohibited within Wilderness areas.
For up-to-date information please call the Hume Lake Ranger District (559) 338-2251, or the Western Divide Ranger District (559) 539-2607, office hours 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Our offices will both be closed on Friday July 4th.