Single Publication

Order Number: #03-08-01-24-004

U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service

Lincon National Forest 

Smokey Bear Ranger District 

Area Closure 

PROHIBITIONS 

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

1. Going into or being upon the described area which is closed for public health and safety. 36 C.F.R. § 261.53(e). 

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, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting resource in the performance of an official duty. 

DESCRIBED AREA 

The Restricted Area is National Forest System lands, roads, and trails within and around the Smokey Bear District on the Lincoln National Forest. The western boundary of the Restricted Area is located at the junction of National Forest Service Road (NFSR) 400 and NFSR 108 Tanbark, NFSR 108 Tanbark to NFSR 107, NFSR 107 to Big Bonito trail #36 to the junction of Aspen Trail # 35, Aspen Trial #35 to the junction of Crest Trail #25, Crest Trail #25 to the junction of Trail # 78, Trail #78 to the Forest Boundary. The Southern boundary is the Forest Boundary from trail # 78 going east for approximately 4.75 miles and then south approximately 6 miles following the Forest Service boundary to the Mescalero boundary, then east along the Forest Service and Mescalero boundary for approximately 18 miles. The eastern boundary is southeast corner of the forest bordering the Mescalerothe boundary going north along the Forest Boundary for approximately 12 miles, then west along the Forest Boundary for approximately 16 miles, then north along the Forest Boundary for approximately 9.25 miles, to the junction of NFSR 400. The northern boundary is NFSR 400 west to the junction of NFSR 108 Tanbark Canyon.

PURPOSE 

The purpose of this Order is to protect the safety of firefighter personnel and the public as firefighters engage in suppression tactics on the Blue 2 and South Fork wildfires. This order rescinds order # 03-08-01-24-003.

IMPLEMENTATION 

1. This Order shall be in effect from June 20, 2024, at 12:01 a.m. through 23 August 2024, at 12:01 p.m., unless rescinded. 

2. A map identifying the Described Area is attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit A. For a digital version of this Order and Exhibit A, go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lincoln/alerts-notices. 

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 Smokey Bear Ranger District in Ruidoso, NM (575) 257-4095, and Lincoln National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Alamogordo, NM, (575) 434-7200, for more information about this Order. 

6. This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same Described Area.