Turner Gulch Wildfire Area Closure Order (9/26 UPDATE)

Associated Documents

Forest Order

Turner Gulch Wildfire Area Closure Order

PROHIBITIONS
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50 (a) and (b), the following is prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) roads in the Grand Valley Ranger District, Uncompahgre National Forest, described below and shown on the attached map, incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A (the “Described Area”):
1. Being on the Described Road. 36 CFR § 261.54(e)

EXEMPTIONS
Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:
1. Entities that have Contractors that have a contract or other agreement with the Forest Service for work in the Described Area and those contractors’ employees and subcontractors,
2. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order or a written determination by a Forest Service authorized officer that a permit is not required under 36 C.F.R. § 251.50(e)(1) or (2).
3. Any Federal, State, or Local Officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

DESCRIBED ROAD
The closed roads are located south and east of Highway 141 in Mesa County. NFSR 404 (Uranium Road) is closed from the western forest boundary continuing eastward until the intersection with NFSR 416 (Rim Road). NFSR 405 (Pine Mountain Road) is closed from the intersection with NFSR 404 and continuing northward to the forest boundary; closure includes NFSR 405.3b, 405.3c, and 405.3d.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this Order is to facilitate suppression repair operations for the management of the Turner Gulch Wildfire.

IMPLEMENTATION
1. This Order shall be in effect from September 26, 2025 at 1201 through December 1st, 2025 at 1200, unless rescinded.
2. A map identifying the Described Roads is attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit A. For the digital web address of this Order and Exhibit A, please contact the Ouray Ranger District in Montrose CO, (970) 240-5300, or Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests Supervisor’s Office in Delta CO, (970) 874-6600.
3. Unless otherwise expressly defined in this Order, the terms used in this Order are defined by the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture, 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299. If there are terms in this Order that are not expressly defined in the Order or 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299, their meaning shall be determined by their plain language definitions.
4. A violation of the above prohibitions is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551; 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.
5. Contact the Grand Valley Ranger District in Grand Junction, CO at 970-242-8211, and the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests Supervisor’s Office in Delta, CO at 970-874-6600, for more information about this Order.
6. This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same Described Area.

Signed and issued on September 26, 2025.
CHAD STEWART
Forest Supervisor
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests

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