Case Mountain Area Closure
All Trails and Roads in Skyline, Salt Creek, Case Mountain, and Milk Ranch Areas Closed
From Bureau of Land Management:
All the BLM roads and trails in the areas locally known as Skyline, Salt Creek, Case Mountain, and Milk Ranch are closed until further notice for public and wildland firefighter safety in relation to the Coffee Pot Fire and management of that incident. Details of the closure order follow the map below.
[Image of the Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area from https://www.blm.gov/visit/case-mountain-extensive-recreation-management-area. The closed areas are shaded yellow and lime green.]
Action: Pursuant to Section 303 (a) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 [43 U.S.C. 1733a)], 43 CFR 8360.0-7, 43 CFR 8364.1 to 43 CFR 9268.3 and 43 CFR 8364.1, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hereby provides notice that effective immediately, the public lands described below are closed to all forms of public access. This closure is for public and wildland firefighter safety, in relation to the Coffee Pot Fire and management of that incident.
Affected Area: Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area, which is approximately 20,000 acres of BLM-managed public land located near the town of Three Rivers, in Tulare County, south of State Route198. This closure includes the Kaweah Area of Critical Environmental Concern and the Milk Ranch Peak Wilderness Study Area.
Prohibitions: The public must not enter the closure area. All uses within the closure area are prohibited. Exceptions to these prohibitions are noted below under Supplemental Information.
Dates: This closure is effective immediately and will remain in effect until such time as conditions allow for safe use of these public lands.
Supplemental Information: The following persons are exempt from the provisions of this Order:
- Any Federal, State, or Local Officer, or member of an organized medical, rescue or firefighting force engaged in fire, emergency, or law enforcement activities, or public utility employees engaged in emergency repairs.
- BLM employees, contractors, or agents engaged in official duties:
- Individuals operating within the scope of their official and legitimate governmental duties.
- Parties who carry written approval signed by the BLM Authorized Officer allowing access to the described public lands.
Penalties: Any person who violates this may be tried before a United States Magistrate and fined in accordance with 18 U.S.C. 3571, imprisoned for no more than 12 months, or both. Vehicles found in violation of this order may be removed.