Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Karen Gustin, Superintendent of Big Cypress National Preserve, a unit of the National Park Service (NPS), announced that effective Friday, May 05, 2006, at 3:00 p.m. all areas within Big Cypress National Preserve’s backcountry that were closed to recreational access due to an active wildland fire will be reopened. The closure will be lifted from the Turner River Unit including the Concho Billie, Monroe North, and Oasis Off Road Vehicle (ORV) Trails, the Florida National Scenic Trail north of the Oasis Visitor Center and south of I-75, and portions of the Corn Dance Unit west of 11 Mile Road. (Zone 4 of the Stairsteps Unit, ORV airboating backcountry, remains closed due to extremely low water levels.) The Six Pack Fire, started by lightning, was first spotted on April 26. The fire burned approximately 800 acres. Due to the efforts of firefighters from the NPS, Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Department of Forestry, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, containment lines have been established around the fire.
As a reminder to all individuals who plan to travel in the backcountry, exercise extreme caution as the Preserve is in severe drought conditions and has not had any substantial rainfall within the last 85 days. With the possibility of increased lightning strikes and dry conditions, be on the lookout for signs of fires. If smoke or fire is seen, contact local fire or law enforcement agencies immediately.
|
