Summer’s here, the hills are dry, and the Angeles National Forest just elevated fire danger to HIGH. Effective June 12, 2026, a new forest order is in place covering the entire Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, running through December 31, 2026.
If you’re heading out to the forest this summer – hiking, camping, off-roading, whatever brings you up there – this affects you directly.
Here’s what the High fire danger order prohibits:
- Building, maintaining, attending, or using a wood or charcoal fire or campfire outside of a developed recreation site
- Welding or operating any acetylene or other open-flame torch
- Discharging a firearm, air rifle, or gas gun, except at currently authorized public shooting ranges listed in the forest order
A few things worth noting. Hunters with a valid California hunting license can still discharge a firearm at legal game during open season – that exemption is written into the order. And if you have a valid California Campfire Permit, you can still use a portable lantern or stove running on gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel. You just can’t have a wood or charcoal fire outside a developed site. Get your free campfire permit at readyforwildfire.org before you go.
I’ll say what I say every fire season: the Angeles is one of the most heavily visited national forests in the country, sitting right on the edge of one of the largest urban areas in the world. The margin for error out there is basically zero. One spark in the wrong place on a dry August afternoon and we’re watching another hillside burn on the evening news – and losing another set of trails for two years while it recovers.
We’ve been down that road recently enough that nobody should need reminding. But here we are.
Be smart out there. Check conditions before you go, follow the order, and for the love of everything green and growing in those mountains – don’t be the person who starts the next one.
Angeles National Forest Supervisor’s Office: (626) 574-1613.
More info: Angeles National Forest – Fire Danger