Forest closures during fire season are “a big lift” for the Forest Service, and one that the public increasingly demands in the wake of catastrophic wildfire. To better understand how and why a forest gets closed, the Arizona Daily Sun sat down with Forest Service leadership from the Coconino National Forest (CNF) to get the inside perspective on forest closures. Every Sunday night before the call, the Forest Service “runs the numbers” on a various data points, or “indices,” that help them determine current fire risk on the forest. For stage three restrictions — full forest closure — the CNF has to consult with the regional and Washington D.C. offices of the Forest Service. When a forest is closed, even the Forest Service and its industry partners have to stay out.

Source: Daily Sun June 26, 2022 13:02 UTC