BOGGS MOUNTAIN, Calif. – More than a year after it was devastated by the Valley fire, the Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest remains closed as state officials work to clear dead trees and make it safe once again for public use.

Cal Fire said that the forest is closed to all public use due to hazardous conditions as a result of the Valley fire and the subsequent restoration, emergency timber operations and large pile burning operations taking place this winter.

As a result of the Valley fire, 99 percent of the forest burned, 80 percent of the mature trees are dead, and 95 percent of the conifer regeneration is dead, Cal Fire said.

The State Forest’s recreational facilities were either destroyed or heavily impacted by the September 2015 Valley fire, and state officials said it will take time and scientific intervention to aid Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest back to a healthy forest that is safe for the community and public to enjoy.

While there is no specific date set to reopen the forest, the crews assigned to Boggs are actively working seven days a week in order to reopen the forest for public use, Cal Fire said.

Officials said logging is still an ongoing project, not just for the burned trees but for the trees the bark beetles are killing.

There are large piles of debris, called slash, left over from the logging that has been going on throughout this past year. Cal Fire said many of those piles are currently being burned to clear the area for future trees. Some of the smaller piles will remain in place for existing habitat and to encourage growth.

Cal Fire said the area is still considered a safety hazard due to heavy equipment, burned trees, massive debris piles, piles of logs and tree tops that still need to be dealt with. The overall operation being conducted is one that takes time and personnel.

A large amount of smoke can be seen on permissive burn days over the forest from the pile burning. Cal Fire reassured the public that these burns are being done safely with minimal smoke impacts.

Cal Fire said it's eager to get Boggs open once again for public use as quickly and safely as possible. It also thanked the community for respecting and honoring the state’s decision to close the forest to public use, which allows the team to stay focused on the forest’s work plan and not enforcement of the closure.