Los Padres Forest closures are expanded

U.S. Forest Service officials expanded emergency forest closures in the Los Padres National Forest Friday.

The expanded closures extend from areas near Mt. Carmel in the northwest and continue eastward along national forest boundaries to the Reliz Canyon area, then south to Nacimiento-Fergusson Road and west to Highway 1.

The closure took effect Friday and will remain in place until the Soberanes Fire is officially contained.

All recreational activities, including hunting, are banned in the area.

Anyone caught inside the area faces a $5,000 dollar fine and/or jail time.

The Soberanes Fire was started by an illegal campfire on Friday July 22. In two weeks, the fire has consumed 53,690 acres.