Gifford Fire Closure Order

LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST
SANTA LUCIA RANGER DISTRICT AND MOUNT PINOS RANGER DISTRICT
FOREST ORDER NUMBER 05-07-53-26-04
USDA FOREST SERVICE
GIFFORD FIRE AREA CLOSURE

Forest Order 05-07-53-26-04 supersedes Forest Order 05-07-53-25-21 executed on October 30, 2025.
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) and (b), and to provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited within the Los Padres National Forest. This Order is effective from April 8, 2026, through October 15, 2026.

1. Going into or being upon any National Forest System lands within the Gifford Fire Closure Area, as described in Exhibit A and shown on Exhibit B. 36 C.F.R. § 261.53(e).
2. Being on any National Forest System roads within the Gifford Fire Closure Area, as described in Exhibit C and shown on Exhibit B. 36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e)
3. Being on any National Forest System trails within the Gifford Fire Closure Area, as described in Exhibit C and shown on Exhibit B. 36 C.F.R. § 261.55(a).

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;
2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire-fighting force in the performance of an official duty;
3. Owners, lessees, or residents of private land within the Gifford Fire Closure Area, to the extent necessary to access their land, unless the area is under evacuation order by the County Sheriff or California Office of Emergency Management;
4. Persons with a Forest Service non-recreation special use authorization, such as for electric
   transmission lines and associated facilities, oil or gas pipelines and surface operations, or
   communications sites and tenants; and
5. Persons with a non-special use Forest Service written authorization to conduct non-recreational activities including, but not limited to hazardous fuels reduction, habitat/ecological restoration, research, resource surveys, or grazing livestock activities.

These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 C.F.R. Part 261, Subpart A.

A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.

Executed at Solvang, California this 7th day of April 2026.
Jeanne E. Dawson
Deputy Forest Supervisor
Los Padres National Forest

EXHIBIT A
CLOSED AREA DESCRIPTION

The boundary of the Los Padres National Forest Gifford Fire Closure Area begins at the Congressional Boundary in the northwest corner of Section 32 of Township 12 North, Range 18 East, Mount Diablo Base Meridian (MDBM); then continues southeast along the Congressional Boundary until it intersects with the southeast corner of Section 35 of Township 12 North, Range 18 East MDBM; the continues north along the Congressional Boundary until it intersects with the northeast corner of Section 1 of Township 31 South, Range 19 East MDBM; then continues west until it intersects with the Congressional Boundary at the southeast corner of Section 35 of Township 31 South, Range 19 East, MDBM; then continues north along the Congressional Boundary to the southeast corner of Section 32 of Township 30 South, Range 17 East, MDBM where it intersects with the boundary of the Machesna Mountain Wilderness. The closure area then proceeds west along the southern border of the Machesna Mountain Wilderness until it turns north to intersect with the Congressional Boundary at the southeast corner of Section 19 of Township 30 South, Range 15 East, MDBM; then continues west along the Congressional Boundary to the southern edge of Section 20 of Township 30 South, Range 14 East, MDBM. The closure area then continues south until it intersects with the boundary of the Santa Lucia Wilderness within Section 19 of Township 30 South, Range 14 East, MDBM; then it continues southeast along the boundary of the Santa Lucia Wilderness until it intersects with the Congressional Boundary on the north side of Section 8 of Township 31 South, Range 14 East, MDBM; then the closure follows the Congressional Boundary south to the northwest corner of Section 5 of Township 12 North, Range 31 West, San Bernardino Base Meridian (SBBM). The closure then proceeds northeast along the northern side of Highway 166 until it intersects with the start of the closure area as shown in Exhibit B.

EXHIBIT C