Editorials

WALNUT CREEK — Rangers at Mount Diablo State Park decided Thursday to close the entire area because of high fire danger. 

Supervising Ranger Dave Matthews said that high winds and low humidity have created extremely dangerous conditions in the East Bay park, causing officials to take the precautionary measure of closing it to all visitors. 

“The closure affects all vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles, horses — everybody,” Matthews said. 

Rangers will reevaluate the situation Friday morning to determine whether the park can be reopened. 

Matthews said the 20,000-acre park usually closes several times each year in September and October as northeast winds start to blow. This is the first closure this year.