National forest rightly reopened

IT'S NOT news that we disagreed with the U.S. Forest Service decision to close the Angeles National Forest for an extended time. At best the move was an internal time out from an agency struggling to manage this precious and popular resource.

On Friday the supervisor of the Angeles, Jodie Cook, reopened most of the 651,874-acre resource, with some exceptions where crews are still working on fire-damaged roadways. We want to give credit where credit is due. Cook and her team were true to their word.

When they announced the sweeping closure in September, hot dry winds had fanned two significant wildfires which charred almost 60,000 acres and destroyed 100 mountain homes. A short respite was in order. Instead, Cook said the forest would be closed for up to a year, or until the next good soaking.

With the year's most significant rain storm in full swing and with rainfall reaching more than an inch in some places and most likely more than that in the San Gabriel Mountains, Cook made good on her promise to reopen at least the front ranges of the Angeles as soon as the rains had doused the fire threat.

This is good news for hikers, mountain bikers, runners and picnickers, the vast majority who treat the nearby wilderness with respect. However, for those careless with a cigarette or a campfire, we say stay out of our forest.

With the gates now open, we would hope the restrictions are tightened to prevent anyone from harming this magnificent resource. We think the dialogue should continue on how to make this resource readily available to all responsible citizens to which it belongs.