UKIAH, Calif. - The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office is temporarily closing the North Cow Mountain Recreation Area, Rifle Range and South Cow Mountain Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area for public safety due to the proximity of both the River and Ranch fires.
CAL FIRE is reporting the Ranch Fire started on July 27, along state Route 20, near Potter Valley, northeast of Ukiah and is near the North Cow Mountain Recreation Area, which includes the Rifle Range.
CAL FIRE is also reporting the River Fire started on July 27, on the Old River Road near the town of Hopland, west of the South Cow Mountain Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area. An evacuation order has been issued from 6800 Old River Road to the north.
The Cow Mountain Recreation Management Area encompasses 60,000 acres of BLM-managed public land that is rugged terrain with elevations ranging from 800 to 4,000 feet. The northern area is set aside for non-motorized recreation, and the southern area is for off-highway vehicles. A creek and mountain ridge separate the areas, and the trail systems do not interconnect.
For the latest fire information, visit http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents. This temporary closure will remain in effect until further notice. For more information, please contact the Ukiah Field Office at 707-468-4000.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
