SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Officials are taking steps to protect residents amid triple digit temperatures by closing some parks and trails that could be dangerous in those conditions.
San Diego County Parks and Recreation is closing El Capitan County Preserve in Lakeside and Mt. Gower County Preserve in Ramona for the entire month of August as those locations have trails that end in isolated areas and limited shade which could lead to dangerous conditions, the department said.
Those parks join two desert parks — Vallecito and Agua Caliente County Parks — which are already closed for the summer due to extreme heat.
“We respect our guests and their ability to make their own decisions when it comes to visiting parks,” said Brian Albright, Director of the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation. “However, we also have a responsibility to keep them safe. When we close park gates, it’s to reduce health risks and related injuries caused by severe weather events – for guests as well as for our own team members who are called to assist in emergency situations.”
While the parks are closed, the county parks and rec. department says staff will be able to perform trail maintenance, brush clearing, painting and fixture installation and deep cleaning of the restrooms.
Even though those parks are closed for the summer, there are several San Diego trails that are also closed, just temporarily.
Amid excessive heat warnings and heat advisories in place across Southern California deserts, mountains and valleys, the San Diego River Gorge, Cedar Creek Falls, Three Sisters Falls, and Eagle Peak trails are closed while those warnings and advisories are in place, according to the Cleveland National Forest.
Southern California has really been feeling the heat lately. Ramona tied a daily record high temperature on Saturday at 102 degrees, the National Weather Service reports.
This weekend, expect desert temperatures in the 110 to 117 range, while mountains and inland areas will see temperatures in the 90s to 100s, and coastal areas will stay in the 70s and 80s.
While San Diego County has over 2,000 parks to choose from, it’s important to keep an eye on the temperatures if you do choose to go outside in the heat and to make sure to stay hydrated and take plenty of breaks, officials with the Cleveland National Forest advise. They also emphasized ground temperatures can be 10 or more degrees hotter than the air temperatures, so keep an eye on children and pets in the heat.
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