West Fork Temporary Area Closure - Extended

U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service
Coconino National Forest
West Fork Temporary Area Closure

PROHIBITIONS

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) and (b), the following are prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) lands in the Coconino National Forest, described below and shown on the attached map incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A (the “Described Area”):

1. Entering or being in an area. 36 CFR § 261.52(e)
2. Being on a Trail. 36 CFR § 261.55(a)

EXEMPTIONS

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. 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).
2. Any Federal, State, or Local Officer, member of an organized rescue or firefighting resource, or private contractor operating within the scope of an agreement with the Forest Service.

DESCRIBED AREA

The Described Area consists of all National Forest System Lands within the West Fork of Oak Creek drainage as described below.

West Fork of Oak Creek drainage: the Described Area consists of all National Forest System Lands within 100 feet of the West Fork of Oak Creek drainage from the intersection of the West Fork of Oak Creek drainage and Forest Road 231 (35°02'0.1"N, 111°51'20.6"W), easterly to the intersection of the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness boundary (34°59'16.7" N, 111°44'52.0"W).

The Described Area also includes the entirety of the West Fork (Trail #108) within the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Order is to protect public health and safety during and following precipitation events and resulting rockfall and flood debris hazards within the Oak Creek watershed affected by the Pocket Fire.

IMPLEMENTATION

1. This Order shall be in effect from September 26, 2026, at 12:00 am through October 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m., unless rescinded.
2. The map identifying the Described Area is attached below and made part of this Order as Exhibit A.
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 prohibition 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 Coconino National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Flagstaff, AZ at (928) 527-3600 for more information about this Order. This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same Described Area.

Signed and issued on September 25, 2026.

ZACHARY FISHER
Acting Deputy Forest Supervisor
Coconino National Forest