Anyone searching for the perfect Christmas tree should stay away from the Angeles National Forest.
That's been the outgoing message from forest spokespeople this week on the heels of a release from the U.S. Forest Service Wednesday urging "safe holiday tree-cutting practices" around the nation's forests and other tree-rich lands.
Just don't practice them in the Angeles National Forest, said Sherry Rollman, forest spokesperson. Rollman said the cutting of living trees is prohibited and that Christmas tree permits are simply not issued.
"We don't issue any kind of live-fuel permits," she said. "There are forests around the country that allow you to do these things, if there's dead wood ... once in a while, they offer firewood sales."
Anyone found to be violating the forest's policies are subject to a citation and fine, Rollman added. However, she also noted that the forest hasn't had any "major difficulties" with guerrilla holiday tree-cutters.
"The public at large is really well-versed," she said. "It's not a problem. We've really gotten strong support from the community."
