Angeles National Forest To Reopen Thursday After Three-Week Closure

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – After being shuttered for about three weeks due wildfire concerns, the Angeles National Forest will finally reopen to the public.

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - SEPTEMBER 02: A motorcyclist passes forest closure signage along the Angeles Crest Highway in the Angeles National Forest which, along with all national forests in California, is closed due to dangerous wildfire conditions on September 2, 2021 near La Canada Flintridge, California. The western U.S. is experiencing wildfires of unprecedented size and destruction along with record drought. Scientists believe worsening climate change is creating extreme weather conditions across the continent. California's national forests will remain closed through at least September 17, just as the season for the powerful Santa Ana winds in Southern California typically begins, bringing the most dangerous wildfire weather of the year until December. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

The U.S. Forest Service announced that the Angeles National Forest will reopen at midnight Wednesday, along with the Cleveland, Los Padres and San Bernardino national forests.

USFS reported that the reopening comes after the wildfire danger level has been lowered from critical to extreme for the region.

The emergency closures took effect for all national forests in California on Aug. 31.

"Several factors led to this decision allowing the closure order to expire," said Robert T. Heiar, deputy forest supervisor for the Angeles National Forest, in a statement. "Although we remain in extreme fire danger conditions, the national and regional improvement will help to provide the needed firefighting resources to southern California. As the forest remains in extreme fire danger conditions it is important to remember that full fire restrictions remain in place."

Firefighters work the Bobcat Fire in the Angeles National Forest on September 23, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. - Containment has grown to 38 percent as one of the biggest fires in the history of Los Angeles County grows to over 113,000 acres. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

So far this year, Northern California has taken the brunt of the state's wildfire activity, with the historic Dixie and Caldor fires destroying hundreds of homes and forcing thousands of people to flee.

Wildfires have burned 2.35 million acres statewide in 2021, according to the latest state numbers.

USFS reports that 180 wildfires have broken out in the Angeles National Forest alone.

USFS noted that a portion of the Angeles National Forest in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Arcadia and Monrovia remains closed due to the September 2020 Bobcat Fire, which destroyed 87 homes and torched 116,000 acres.

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