As of today, our Southwest Shore Colony and the surrounding National Forest is currently closed under Forest Service Closure Order 05-12-00-24-11, effective from September 29 through November 30, 2024, because of the Line Fire. However, containment of the Line Fire has progressed to the point where the Forest Service has created an Exemption Permit to allow limited access to Recreational Residence cabins for purposes of "critical maintenance, repair, security, and winterizing activities for the preservation of Cabin Permittee's existing authorized infrastructure only, not for recreation activities. The Cabin Permittee will remain on the footprint of their cabin for no more than 72 hours from time of arrival."
Follow the link to read and/or download a PDF file containing the Southwest Shore Tract Forest Service Exemption Permit (FS-7700-48), issued by the Forest Service on October 10, 2024, and effective immediately. If you plan to go to your cabin as allowed by this order, you should take with you a copy of this Exemption Permit, as well as a copy of the first page of your Recreation Residence Permit showing your Cabin Number and the Permittee's name. Electronic copies may suffice, but printed copies would be safer.
During this next two week period (Oct. 14-25), as described on our website and in a previous newsletter, Big Bear Blvd. will be closed on weekdays from the dam to the town. However, the road will be open each weekday from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 a.m., if you need access to your cabin. Plan your visit accordingly, and check with CalTrans to be sure of road availability. Big Bear Blvd. is scheduled to be open on the weekend of Oct. 19-20.
Since we do not have a current list of the actual Permit Holders for each cabin, in the interest of time, we sent out this newsletter to all the members of our Southwest Shore community, to be sure that everyone who needs this Exemption Permit will have it. If this newsletter does not pertain to you, or if you have no plans to go to your cabin for winterization and repairs, then no action is required from you. If you do plan to go to your cabin soon, please read the Exemption Permit carefully, take with you the necessary documents, and make your travel plans accordingly.
That's all for now. According to the WatchDuty.org website, the Line Fire is 97% contained as of today, having burned 43,978 acres. Hopefully, the worst of that fire is behind us, and life in Big Bear can slowly get back to normal. We will hope for a moderate fall season to allow the fire fighters to mop up after the fire, and for cabin owners to complete our winterizing and repair projects in relative nice weather. Let's all enjoy the fall and holiday season, and be grateful that the Line Fire was no worse than it was.