Betty's Kitchen Closed

It is always sad to see local areas trashed, polluted or ruined by a fire. I happen to see an article in the local Yuma Area newspaper about Betty’s Kitchen. The article said that Betty’s Kitchen is now closed and will remain closed for the next two years. “The Laguna Fire destroyed pretty much all of Betty’s Kitchen, including some of the structures,” said Arturo Lopez, acting assistant field manager for recreation and visitors. “The temporary closure is to allow us to restore and rehab the area. Once we are done, we will reopen the area to the public.” The Laguna Fire burned about 751 acres  along the Colorado River in May 2011. The human-caused fire, which was about 15 miles northeast of Yuma, actually started in California and hopped the river into Arizona. Most of the fire was in the Arizona territory and  destroyed a  abandoned cabin known as Pappin House and portions of Betty’s Kitchen Watchable Wildlife Area and Interpretive Trail near Laguna Dam. The fire also destroyed large sign at Betty’s Kitchen, a ramada, a wooden footbridge, some vegetation and a BLM water truck were burned.