Controversial Campsite Expansion At Auburn State Recreation Area Gets Unanimous Approval

FORESTHILL (CBS13) — A arguable program to adhd caller campgrounds to the Auburn State Recreation Area passed unanimously by authorities parkland commissioners Thursday, adjacent arsenic radical who unrecorded successful the country voiced their concerns implicit the accrued wildfire risk.

John Michelini is committee president of the Foresthill Fire Protection District and has been a vocal hostile to the enlargement plan. His Foresthill location has a backmost platform overlooking the Auburn State Recreation Area.

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“There’s homes connected that hillside,” Michelini said arsenic helium looked retired astatine the authorities park. “Just implicit the hill, wherever the trees are successful the sun, is wherever the Trailhead Fire started.”

In this peaceful scenery pairing homes and wildlife, wildfire interest is present higher than ever.

“Fires occurring successful the Auburn State Recreation Area aren’t a substance of inconvenience for these people, it’s a substance of beingness and death,” Michelini said.

The state’s Park and Recreation Commission unanimously approved a wide program to let for an summation successful the fig of campsites determination from 36 to 178, on with caller trails and parking lots.

Michelini says helium present questions whether the authorities is genuinely acrophobic astir wildfire danger.

“Are they?” Michelini said. “I mean, it’s 1 happening to accidental you’re acrophobic astir wildfires and it’s different happening to really bash thing astir it.”

Alexandra Stehl is the readying main for California State Parks.

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“We instrumentality it precise seriously,” Stehl said.

Stehl said adding much ineligible campsites to the fashionable getaway volition adjacent little amerciable camping—a overmuch higher occurrence risk.

“So if we don’t supply the camping that radical are looking for, we summation the hazard of them uncovering their ain camping areas,” Stehl said.

The imaginable for much visitors is besides adding to concerns of overcrowded evacuation routes successful lawsuit of a wildfire. The Foresthill Bridge became blocked during the Bridge Fire successful aboriginal September.

“Foresthill Road is the main flight way for 7,000 radical who unrecorded successful the Foresthill community,” Michelini said.

People who unrecorded alongside the Auburn State Recreation Area are seeking a consciousness of information arsenic the authorities moves guardant with large enlargement plans.

“We recognize that determination is immoderate spot that we request to rebuild with the community,” Stehl said.

Thirty radical spoke up of the ballot Thursday. All were opposed to this plan.

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There is nary timetable erstwhile the authorities whitethorn question backing to physique the caller campsites.

Steve Large