ARCADIA, Calif., March 28, 2016, For Immediate Release—Angeles National Forest officials are asking for public comment on a proposal to maintain many existing fuel breaks located primarily on ridgetops within the Sierra Pelona Mountain Range north of Santa Clarita. The proposal would remove vegetation within about 300 feet along specified ridges in the project area by mechanical, manual and prescribed fire methods. The affected project area would be about 1,223 acres.
A detailed description of the proposal and project area map are available online at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=47706 Hard copies of the proposal are available, and may be requested by calling Diane Travis at (760) 249-6005.
The comments deadline is April 19 and may be emailed to: comments-pacificsouthwest-angeles@fs.fed.us or mailed to: "Fuel Break Comments" Santa Clara Mojave Rivers Ranger District, 33708 Crown Valley Road Acton, CA 93510 Attn. Diane Travis.
Some of the fuel breaks proposed for maintenance were established in the 1930s and others more recently. When maintained to standard, this interconnected set of breaks would be expected to decrease wildland fire spreads. The decrease would be through providing enhanced fire-suppression opportunities for aerial and ground based firefighters, and by establishing strategic fire-control points during large wildland fire suppression.