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Monterey Ranger District Fire Danger & Restrictions

Closure

Safety brief

Updated

Very high fire danger today.

Fire danger is very high in the Monterey Ranger District. Campfires are allowed at designated sites like Arroyo Seco and Kirk Creek, but prohibited in the backcountry. Propane stoves are permitted with a valid campfire permit. Overnight camping and campfires are prohibited at San Carpoforo Beach. Always confirm current restrictions and weather before your trip.

Restrictions

Campfires and Stoves

Equipment and Work

Shooting and Closures

Backcountry campfiresProhibited

Backcountry campfires prohibited forest-wide except at designated campfire use sites.

Exceptions

  • Valid CA Campfire Permit holders may use portable lanterns or stoves with gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel
  • Federal/State/local officers and organized rescue/fire-fighting forces in official duty
Campground campfiresAllowed

Campfires allowed at designated campfire use sites including Arroyo Seco, China Camp, Escondido, Kirk Creek, Nacimiento, Plaskett Creek, Ponderosa, and others.

Conditions

  • Only at designated campfire use sites listed in Exhibit A
Propane fuel and camp stovesRestricted

Propane and pressurized fuel stoves allowed for valid CA Campfire Permit holders.

Conditions

  • Valid CA Campfire Permit required
Target shootingProhibited

Firearm discharge prohibited except at authorized public shooting ranges and for lawful hunting.

Exceptions

  • Winchester Canyon Gun Club and Ojai Valley Gun Club (authorized public shooting ranges)
  • Lawful hunting during open season with valid CA hunting license
Forest closures and access limitsProhibited

San Carpoforo Beach: overnight camping and campfires prohibited.

Conditions

  • Applies to all National Forest lands west of Highway 1 to mean high tide line in Section 16, Township 25 South, Range 6 East

Exceptions

  • Federal/State/local law enforcement and organized rescue/fire-fighting forces in official duty

Restrictions last checked

Near-surface wildfire smoke forecast

Estimated AQI*

0max avg 0 µg/m³ around 7 AM

Good wildfire smoke

Next 24 hours

Forecast updated Oct 25, 2026, 2:00 PM

District average10th–90th percentile

* Estimated AQI is an equivalent interpretation of forecast wildfire-smoke PM2.5 only; it is not an observed or official AQI reading.

Hourly wildfire-smoke PM2.5 forecast across the district
Local timeDistrict averagep10p90Estimated AQI*Smoke category
Oct 25, 2:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 25, 3:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 25, 4:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 25, 5:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 25, 6:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 25, 7:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 25, 8:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 25, 9:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 25, 10:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 25, 11:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 12:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 1:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 2:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 3:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 4:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 5:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 6:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 7:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 8:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 9:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 10:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 11:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 12:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Oct 26, 1:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke

* Estimated AQI is an equivalent interpretation of forecast wildfire-smoke PM2.5 only; it is not an observed or official AQI reading. HRRR forecasts near-ground smoke; district values are area-weighted, conditions vary by location, and other pollution sources are not included.

Check current observed air quality on AirNow (opens in a new tab)

Recent changes

30-day fire danger history

Last 30 days

Stable at Very High since Sep 26.

Open official source

Ratings and restrictions are collected from official source pages and may lag agency updates. Always confirm current fire restrictions, closures, evacuation notices, and emergency guidance with the responsible agency before starting a trip.

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