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Every national forest in California to temporarily close as wildfires continue to rage
Aug. 31, 2021
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3 min read
Every national forest in California to temporarily close as wildfires continue to rage
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The U.S. Forest Service is closing every single national forest in the state of California due to the ongoing and very dangerous threat of wildfires. The temporary closures begin Tuesday night, Aug. 31, and will extend through at least Sept. 17. This is an extremely rare action for the Forest Service to take. It also closed the state's national forests last year during what was the worst season of wildfires in California history.
A combination of strained resources and peak conditions for fires has left authorities little choice. The latest meteorological forecasts also indicate no weather relief is coming anytime soon as conditions are trending the same or worse as fall approaches.
Related: Guide to California parks
This comes just ahead of the Labor Day weekend, when many visitors would normally enjoy the holiday spending time outdoors at one of the picturesque areas such as Sequoia National Forest in the Sierra Nevada mountains, or Angeles National Forest in the Los Angeles area. “We do not take this decision lightly but this is the best choice for public safety,” said regional forester Jennifer Eberlien in a statement.
Here are the forests that are now closed:
- Stanislaus National Forest
- Sierra National Forest
- Sequoia National Forest
- Inyo National Forest
- Los Padres National Forest
- Angeles National Forest
- San Bernardino National Forest
- Cleveland National Forest
- Eldorado National Forest
- Klamath National Forest
- Lassen National Forest
- Mendocino National Forest
- Modoc National Forest
- Six Rivers National Forest
- Plumas National Forest
- Shasta-Trinity National Forest
- Tahoe National Forest
- Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
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The closures could help in fighting and containing the wildfires because they reduce the number of people who could potentially find themselves trapped by fires, and remove a number of sources that could inadvertently spark new wildfires. They also provide some relief for the state's firefighting resources, which have already been stretched to the limit by an incredibly busy wildfire season.
The Forest Service says 6,800 wildfires have already scorched 1.7 million acres of national forest land across the state. The huge Caldor wildfire currently burning has forced thousands of people to evacuate as the flames approach that popular destination. The resort town of South Lake Tahoe has been evacuated, and it's expected that parts of nearby Nevada will also need to be evacuated.
Delta Air Lines issued a travel waiver for Reno last week due to smoky conditions, but that has not been extended so far this week. Delta, in a press release, said, "Due to wildfires in the vicinity of Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) driving decreased visibility and impacting airport operations, Delta has issued a travel waiver to assist customers who might be impacted."
Several flights to Reno-Tahoe International Airport were canceled last week, but the fires do not appear to be affecting airports in California or Nevada at this time.
The closures do not apply to Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The majority of that forest is in Nevada.
Featured image by Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Best for dining at restaurants
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
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- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.