As Fork Fire containment grows, officials reopen Eldorado National Forest

The Fork Fire, which has been burning for almost two weeks, reached 53% containment Saturday morning as U.S. Forest Service officials began reopening Eldorado and other national forests that were shut in an unprecedented move to prevent more wildfires from enveloping federal lands in California.

The fire, which has charred 1,752 acres, is burning in rugged, steep terrain 15 miles northeast of Pollock Pines.

Officials said late Friday that the forest would be opening some recreational activities at 8 a.m. on Saturday, including designated campsites. Use of any ignition source and camping anywhere else remains prohibited.

A partial closure remains in effect for some areas of the Eldorado National Forest, particularly around the area of the Fork Fire.

Increased humidity has aided firefighting efforts to put out hot spots in the flames, but the Rubicon Canyon region, which burned in the 2014 King Fire, continues to present an issue. Firefighters plan to use a method to knock down trees, attaching explosives to tree trunks and detonating them, in an effort to contain the spread of the flames.

The blaze is currently being fought by over 340 firefighters, who are trying to hold containment lines away from residences in nearby communities. The estimated date of containment is Tuesday, officials said.

Tahoe National Forest and Forest Service beaches in the Lake Tahoe area are also open starting on Saturday — camping in unmarked areas or flames remain banned.

Other national forests in the state, including Stanislaus National Forest, are reopening with safety restrictions. But some, like Klamath National Forest and Inyo National Forest, will remained closed. For updated information about each park’s restrictions and closures, the U.S. Forest Service provides a map with recreation site statuses on its website.

All national forests in California were closed Sept. 9 due to numerous large wildfires and extreme fire activity. The action, a first by the federal agency, was an attempt to prevent more wildfires from erupting, citing the priority of safety for the public and firefighters.