Lawsuit resurrects wilderness issue Seven environmental groups put up a united front on Aug. 14, filing suit against the United States Forest Service for failing to adequately protect Southern California’s national forests. In 2005, local fire departments successfully fought to keep the proposed Sugarloaf Wilderness area out of the final Forest Service land management plan for fear it would hamper fire fighting abilities. The northern boundary of the proposed 3,000-acre Sugarloaf Wilderness is near the communities of Sugarloaf, Moonridge, Lake William and Erwin Lake. According to then Big Bear City Fire Chief Dana Van Leuven, wilderness restrictions would require firefighters to do their jobs on foot without heavy equipment or air support in the designated area. When making the final decision on the plan, San Bernardino National Forest supervisor Gene Zimmerman agreed the designation was unnecessary. “I have chosen not to recommend the Sugarloaf Roadless Area for wilderness designation even though it was included in the preferred alternative in the Draft Plan and EIS,” Zimmerman wrote in the record of decision. “My decision is based on the need for fuels treatment in the area to protect the Big Bear community. At the same time, I believe the current back country character will be effectively maintained using the Back Country Non-Motorized and Back Country Motorized Use Restricted land use zones.”....