The Woolsey Fire has burned 83 percent of popular outdoor recreation area in the Santa Monica Mountains

Amy DiPierro | Palm Springs Desert Sun

Swaths of the Santa Monica Mountains, including parkland west of Los Angeles that is home to mountain lions, bobcats and other wildlife, and which is popular with outdoor enthusiasts, has burned in the Woolsey Fire.

CAL FIRE reported the Woolsey Fire has charred 83 percent of all National Park Service land in the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area, a 150,000-acre area stretching from the rugged coastline of Ventura and Los Angeles counties inland to canyons, creeks and mountains.

The recreation area is the largest urban national park in the nation, drawing 35 million annual visitors. About 15 percent of it is composed of National Park Service land. The remainder of the area includes property under private ownership, California State Parks and other conservation lands.

In a Facebook post, the unit of the National Park Service overseeing the recreation area said it had been able to confirm the locations and movement of eight of the 13 mountain lions it monitors using radio-collars but said it was "too early to say how wildlife, in general, have fared."

"First and foremost, our hearts go out to all those affected by the fire, especially those who have lost their homes," the post said. "There are many pressing concerns right now – some people are anxious to know about wildlife and some people are simply trying to figure out where they'll sleep tonight."

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The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, a public agency that works to acquire and manage more than 75,000 acres around the Santa Monica Mountains, posted some signs of hope, including deer trotting through shrubland cleared by the fire.

Mike Theune, a spokesperson with the National Park Service, warned outdoors enthusiasts to stay off trails in the fire area.

“We know that the public is really interested in visiting these special places. It’s their favorite hiking trails, they know places like Paramount Ranch," he said. "But we want to caution people that these areas are not only within the fire area, but also the trail conditions are unknown, there’s lots of hazard trees in the area, there’s also damage to a lot of park facilities and buildings. So please stay out of the area for your safety and also the safety of the firefighters and law enforcement officers in the area.”

Besides wildlife habitat, the blaze has scorched some landmarks. The fire destroyed much of Peter Strauss Ranch in Agoura Hills, a park that hosted performances by Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson in the 1950s and more recently become a venue for private events, like weddings. The fire also burned Paramount Ranch, a famed movie set in Agoura Hills.

Reach reporter Amy DiPierro at amy.dipierro@desertsun.com.