10/22/2020 Fire Closure Alert

Due to unprecedented and historic fire conditions, the USDA Forest Service's Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests has implemented a temporary closure of all National Forest land in Clear Creek, Jefferson, Gilpin, Boulder and Larimer counties. This decision will be re-evaluated daily as conditions change. View all Fire Closures and Restrictions across the forest.

Three Front Range Districts are temporarily CLOSED due to wildfire threat.

(For a printable, shareable copy of this order, click here)

Order #ARP-2020-13 

FOREST ORDER USDA FOREST SERVICE 

Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests Boulder, Canyon Lakes, and Clear Creek Ranger Districts 

STAGE 3 CLOSURE ORDER 

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50 (a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited on National Forest System lands within the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests that are located in Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Larimer, and Jefferson Counties within the Boulder, Clear Creek, and Canyon Lakes Ranger Districts in the State of Colorado (“Restricted Areas”) and on all National Forest System roads and trails located within the Restricted Area (“the Restricted Roads and Trails”). The Restricted Area is depicted on the attached map hereby incorporated into this order as Exhibit A. 

The purposes of this Order are to: (1) provide for public safety; and (2) prevent interference with firefighting operations. 

PROHIBITIONS: This Order prohibits the following: 

1) Going into or being upon the Restricted Areas depicted on the Map in Exhibit A. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(e). 

2) Being on the National Forest System Roads within the Restricted Areas. 36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e). 

3) Being on the National Forest System Trails within the Restricted Areas. 36 C.F.R. § 261.55(a). 

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

1) Any federal, state or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force, in the performance of an official duty; 

2) Persons with a Forest Service permit specifically exempting them from the effect of this Order. 

This Order supersedes other existing fire restrictions and closure orders in place for these districts, including Orders ARP-2020-10 and ARP-2020-11. Stage 2 Fire Restrictions remain in place for the Pawnee National Grassland. When this order is rescinded the previous Orders will remain in effect until rescinded or expiration. 

This Order becomes effective at 12:00am on October 21, 2020 and remains in effect until November 15, 2020 or until rescinded, whichever event occurs first. 

Executed in Fort Collins, Colorado October 20, 2020. 

MONTE WILLIAMS 

Forest Supervisor Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland 

A violation of the prohibitions in this Order is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both. (16 U.S.C. § 551 and 18 U.S.C §§ 3559 and 3571).