California agencies have closed parks across the Santa Monica Mountains as wildfire danger rises across Southern California.
The restrictions aim to cut potential ignition sources and limit the number of people who might need evacuation during an emergency.
The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority scheduled closures at 22 parks from Thursday through Saturday, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The National Weather Service issued red-flag warnings for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, signaling conditions in which fires could ignite more easily and spread rapidly.
The New York Times reported that critical wildfire conditions also affected mountainous areas behind Los Angeles and the Sierra Nevada Range.
Several small fires had started by Thursday afternoon, including the Peak fire in Los Angeles County, which had grown to more than 20 acres.
A small number of people were under evacuation orders.
Utility companies also cut power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses to reduce the risk of electrical equipment and power lines sparking fires, according to the New York Times.
Coordinated Closure Policy
The park restrictions follow a coordinated closure policy announced in March by California State Parks, the National Park Service, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the MRCA.
The agencies agreed to coordinate access restrictions whenever the National Weather Service issued red-flag warnings.
Dash Stolarz, a spokesperson for the MRCA, said the policy emerged from discussions following the 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires.
The new procedures are expected to produce more trail and park closures during periods of extreme fire danger than under previous practices.
Stolarz described the agencies' approach to managing wildfire risks as follows: "You just try and control all the variables you can control."
He also explained how the agencies had strengthened their coordination.
"One of the things ...
we have done is we talk more, we've upped our communication with each other in so many ways," Stolarz said.
California State Parks urged visitors to verify conditions with the agency responsible for their destination before traveling into the mountains during a red-flag warning.
The agency cautioned that some closed locations might not have signs or gates marking the restrictions.
The 22 MRCA-managed locations scheduled to close include Cameron Nature Preserve at Puerco Canyon, Corral Canyon Park, Escondido Canyon Park, Tuna Canyon Park, Top of Topanga Overlook, Summit Valley Ed D.
Edelman Park, Red Rock Canyon Park, Mill Creek Ranch, Temescal Canyon Park, Franklin Canyon Park, Wilacre Park and Mulholland Corridor Overlooks.
The closures also cover Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park, Westridge-Canyonback Wilderness Park, King Gillette Ranch, Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve, Sage Ranch Park, Mentryville, Whitney Canyon Park, East and Rice Canyons, Ed Davis Park in Towsley Canyon and Happy Camp Canyon Regional Park.
Additional closures were expected at locations managed by the National Park Service within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
These include Rancho Sierra Vista, Solstice Canyon, Peter Strauss Ranch, Rocky Oaks, Paramount Ranch, Cheeseboro and Palo Comado, Circle X Ranch, Arroyo Sequit, Franklin Canyon, Fryman Canyon and Deer Creek.
Potentially affected locations also include Zuma and Trancas Canyons, including the Bonsall and Busch parking lots; the Backbone Trail, including its Kanan Road parking lot; and the Sandstone Peak and Mishe Mokwa parking lots and trails.
The MRCA recommended checking the relevant agency's latest updates because closure status could change with conditions.
The National Weather Service warnings were expected to remain relevant through at least Saturday as gusty winds and dry weather continued to threaten parts of California.
The agencies' coordinated restrictions were designed to limit public exposure and reduce complications if wildfire conditions deteriorated.
