A road is like a river. No private property owner can block a navigable river that flows through their property.
It”s against the law. Imagine what would happen if all private property owners could block all public roads going through their property.
Twin Valley Road, through Mendocino National Forest, is a major emergency fire exit road.
To block speedy travel on it to anyone trying to escape a forest fire is wrong and anyone intentionally blocking Twin Valley Road at Crabtree Hot Springs should be liable for a very serious criminal offense if lives are lost.
It has always been my understanding, from talking-with a deputy sheriff”s officer several years ago, that Twin Valley Road is considered by the Lake County Sheriff”s Office to be an extremely important emergency fire exit road that cannot be blocked by the private property owner at Crabtree Hot Springs.
Recently, the owner blocked the road. Currently, Twin Valley Road remains blocked at Crabtree Hot Springs, so that now anyone unfortunately fleeing a forest fire in that direction would be trapped.
That”s not good.
There have been numerous lightning-strike fires in the forest areas along Twin Valley Road in recent years. Correctly, the sheriff”s office realizes that it is a vital emergency fire exit road, connecting other areas of the forest together and cannot be blocked on the mere whim of the private property owner at Crabtree Hot Springs. Twin Valley Road 17 N0. 4 through Mendocino National Forest, as an essential interconnecting emergency fire exit road, must always be open for anyone seeking immediate personal safety in distance from a forest fire.
The private property at Crabtree Hot Springs is under the jurisdiction of the county sheriff. Please urge Sheriff Mitchell to unblock Twin Valley Road at Crabtree Hot Springs.
Public safety must come first. Thank you.
Rick Downey
Santa Rosa
