Gila National Forest is Open for July 4th Holiday; Fire Restrictions Remain in ...

June 24, 2011; Silver City, NM— The Gila National Forest is open and as Independence Day draws nearer, recreationists are planning on spending their holiday weekend in and around the Gila National Forest. Forest Supervisor Kelly Russell reminds everyone of the Stage II fire restrictions, the extreme fire danger, and the area closure on portions of the Quemado, Reserve, and Glenwood Ranger Districts due to the Wallow Fire.

Due to the recent high level of fire activity, Forest offices are receiving questions on whether the Forest is open, what areas are open, what fire restrictions are in place, are fireworks allowed, etc.  To assist Forest users in their holiday planning,

Stage II fire restrictions are in place. Activities NOT allowed include:

Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, or stove fires. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building. Possessing, discharging or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device. Using an explosive. Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed and maintained and in effective working order meeting either the Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Standard 5100-1a; or appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers. Chainsaw use will not be allowed between the hours of 10:00 a.m. (MDT) to 9:00 p.m. (MDT). Welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame.   Possessing or using a motor vehicle off National Forest system roads. Exceptions include parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of the roadway and parking overnight in developed campgrounds and at trailheads. It is unlawful for any person to violate any Forest Conservation Act, 68-2-1 through 68-2-25 NMSA 1978, or any provision of rule or regulation adopted.  An intent of the Forest Conservation Act covers violating any state law, that specifically concerns burning, fires, or that which is for the purpose of preventing or restricting the spread of fire.

Area Closure: Due to the Wallow Fire, the following areas on the western part of the Gila National Forest (Quemado, Reserve, and Glenwood Ranger Districts) are currently closed to public access and subject to change depending on new or existing fire activity.

The northern Quemado District boundary from the Arizona-New Mexico State Line east to N.M. State Highway 32; south on NM State Highway 32 to NM 12 at Apache Creek; then south and west on NM 12 to U.S. Highway 180, then south on U.S. Highway 180 to Catron County Roads C009, Forest Road 703, and Forest Road 168 west to the Arizona state line. 
o        For a map of the area closure, please visit http://fs.usda.