Forest visitors are urged to maintain high level of awareness with increased filre risk



With rising summer temperatures the fire danger level went from "high'' to "very high'' in the Angeles National Forest on the weekend following the Fourth of July holiday. The change in alert status comes as vegetation continues to dry out due to extreme summer heat.

Summer recreational activities that bring more than a million visitors a year to the Angeles National Forest are factored into the fire danger level because the majority of all wildfires in the forest are caused by humans.

Currently, open wood and charcoal fires will only be allowed in developed campgrounds and picnic areas where fire rings and grills are provided. Gas and propane-powered stoves and grills are permitted in backcountry areas with a valid California Campfire Permit, which is available free of charge at all U.S. Forest Service offices and most visitor centers and fire stations.

And just a reminder, all fireworks are prohibited on national forest lands.

Forest visitors are "urged to use common sense'' and to maintain a higher level of awareness with the increased fire risk.





*Enjoy Nature - Plan your Hike by filling out the Sheriff's Department's HIKING PLAN SHEET:



http://file.lacounty.gov/lasd/cms1_163961.pdf





Hiking/Camping is a fun way to get family and friends together to enjoy the outdoors and to get some physical activity. However, you should always be prepared for the unexpected. You should tell family and friends what your plans are and provide a list of who will be going with you. That's why the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department would like to remind the residents of Los Angeles County that having a hiking / camping plan is crucial to survival in case of an emergency.



Before you leave, please fill out Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue Hiking Plan sheet and provide to a loved one to hold onto just in case something happens to a member of your hiking/camping expedition. You can download the form by visiting:



If you would like more information on how to prepare for your hiking / camping trip, please visit the Center for Disease Control's camping website at http://www.cdc.gov/family/camping/





The Montrose Search and Rescue Team personnel are reserve sheriff's deputies who volunteer their time to help others for $1 a year, and who partner with sheriff's civilian volunteers who volunteer for free. There are over 150 members of the eight Search and Rescue teams of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, who were activated for over 450 search and rescue missions last year, making it one of the most active counties for search and rescue missions in the nation. Reserve deputies and civilian volunteers are supervised by full-time sheriff's deputies.



Did you know? There are over 850 LASD reserve sheriff's deputies who work patrol, jails, search and rescue, motorcycle patrol, mounted posse, investigations, and more, as team members of the second largest policing agency in the nation. http://lasdreserve.org/

The Crescenta Valley Station Reserve Coordinator is Sergeant Burton Brink (818) 248-4018





Content Contact Information:

Sergeant Mark Slater

Captain Dave Sliversparre

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Crescenta Valley Station

(818) 248-3464

www.CrescentaValley.lasd.org

E-Mail: crescentavalley@lasd.org





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