A smoke plume can now be seen over the La Brea Fire. This is from fuels in an unburnt island on the interior of the fire perimeter in the area north of Manzanita Mountain. Fire fighters are aware of the situation and monitoring the area.
Forest Service officials today announced, that due to the La Brea Fire now being 100% contained, effective immediately, the Emergency Fire Area Closure will be reduced in size. [No new maps available at the time of this article] The general area in and around the La Brea Fire, will most likely remain closed until next spring. This closure will allow the areas affected by the fire a chance to heal, as new growth vegetation begins to appear. Crews are still working in the area of the fire to rehabilitate the area.
The closure is also for the safety of forest visitors, as there is a danger of falling trees, rolling rocks and other safety hazards present where the fire burned. There is also risk of flash flooding in streams and rivers should there be any rain and is why the Sisquoc River will remain closed from the Forest boundary to Wellman Camp. The emergency closure prohibits public entry to all national forest lands, trails, roads and recreation sites within the closure area specified below. The closure applies only to national forest lands and does not affect private lands within the national forest boundary.