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Category: Local News Releases Local News Releases
Published: 30 June 2020 30 June 2020

Silver City, NM, June 30, 2019—For Immediate Release.  The offices of the Gila National Forest will be closed on Friday, July 3 in observance of the July 4th holiday.  The offices will reopen on Monday, July 5 for normal business. Even though the offices are closed, the forest is open and fire personnel, law enforcement officers, and recreation staff will be on-duty on the 4th of July holiday for the safety of visitors.

On April 15, 2020 the USDA’s Forest Service Southwestern Region enacted a campfire ban.  The following is prohibited under the April 15 campfire restriction order:

Igniting, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, including charcoal grills, barbecues, coal and wood burning stoves.

Violating the campfire ban may result in an appearance in federal court, fines, and possible time in jail. Forest visitors will still be able to use pressurized liquid or gas devices (stoves, grills or lanterns) with shut-off valves, in an area at least three feet from any flammable materials.

We encourage visitors to contact our ranger districts or check the Gila National Forest website for specific recreation sites prior to traveling or making plans. Remember to respect your public lands by packing out your trash. Possessing, discharged, or using any kind of firework or pyrotechnic device is ALWAYS prohibited on public lands.   

For information on the Gila National Forest, check out our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/gila