TRABUCO CANYON – The gate leading from Trabuco Creek Road into the Holy Jim area of the Cleveland National Forest was closed indefinitely because of recent storms, combined with a fire three months ago that destroyed 150 acres, creating dangerous debris flow – turning the road into a swamp.

A storm expected late Friday and early Saturday could worsen the situation, with the road potentially covered in mud 100 feet wide and 6 feet deep.

“It’s a mess,” said Mike Milligan, the chief of the Holy Jim Volunteer Fire Department. “If you get stuck in that, it’s a life-threatening situation.”

Last weekend, he said, several cars got stuck in 4-foot-deep mud – with some drivers needing to be rescued.

The earliest the United States Forest Service can get tractors up there is Tuesday, Milligan said, and if the weather clears up until then, the gate could re-open by New Year’s weekend.

“Please stay away,” he said. “There is a significant amount of debris flow. It’s not safe.”

Contact the writer: 714-796-6979 or chaire@scng.com