BLM temporarily closing Knoxville Recreation Area due to Snell Fire danger
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UKIAH, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office is temporarily closing the Knoxville Management Area, within the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, due to the proximity of the Snell Fire burning southeast of Middleton in Napa County.
This temporary closure includes the Knoxville Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area, Northside Staging Area, Hunting Creek Campground and the Knoxville Area of Critical Environmental Concern. The closure is necessary to protect public land users from active wildfire, to safeguard wildland fire fighters from recreational activities and to shield natural resources that may require rehabilitation after fire suppression. These areas will remain closed to public access until further notice.
The Snell Fire started on Sept. 8, along Butts Canyon and Snell Valley roads. At the time of this release, CAL FIRE is reporting that approximately 2,400 acres have burned of primarily grassy, oak woodlands in difficult terrain and is 15 percent contained.
Evacuations are in place and portions of Berryessa Knoxville Road and Snell Valley Road are closed. The most current information is available at http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/2244.
The Cow Mountain Recreation Area sustained heavy damage during the Mendocino Complex Fire and remains closed to all access.
All public lands managed by the Ukiah Field Office are under fire restrictions, which prohibit recreational target shooting and ban all campfires and open flame. Read more at https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-ukiah-increases-fire-restrictions-limits-shooting-Aug2018. A complete listing off all fire restrictions on BLM-managed public lands in California is available at https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/california/fire-restrictions. For specific questions, please contact the Ukiah Field Office, Monday through Friday, at 707-468-4000.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.