Labor Day weekend is usually one of the year's most profitable for businesses that depend on campers heading into the woods. But that won't be the case this year, following the announcement earlier this week that the U.S. Forest Service would close all 20 million acres of National Forests in California through Sept. 17 in order to reduce wildfire risk in the state.
The forests' closure will also mean a forced closure for most of the businesses that operate within them and, by extension, a huge drop in customers for businesses open near those forests.
"We recognize the additional impacts to local businesses, but we – (and) I – really wanted to make sure we have public safety in our foremost thoughts," Jennifer Eberlien, California's regional forester, said this week.
This is the second time in the last two years the forests have closed, Eberlien said. She recognized it was "especially hard" to turn campers away ahead of a holiday weekend, but said the temporary closure is intended to reduce the risk of fire starts and the likelihood any visitors become trapped.
Deputy Regional Forester Tony Scardina said the agency's data showed the forests “almost got to the point of zero fire starts” last year while 18 National Forests in the state were closed, backing up federal data that about 90% of wildfires are started by humans. A helicopter also needed to rescue campers last summer when the Creek Fire started near Shaver Lake, and Scardina said there were "several other situations like that."
“Just last year we talked about it being record-setting and unprecedented conditions,” Scardina said. “And this year, we’re faced with even more on top of that.”
Yosemite National Park, which is operated by the National Park Service, will be open Labor Day weekend to visitors with a reservation.
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