Silver City, NM, May 21, 2019—For Immediate Release. All Gila National Forest (Gila NF) offices and ranger stations will be closed on Monday, May 78. Regular business hours will resume Tuesday, May 28.

Despite the office closure, fire personnel, law enforcement officers, and recreation staff will be on-duty on the Memorial Day holiday for the safety of visitors.

Fire or smoking restrictions are currently not in effect on Gila National Forest. However, vegetation may be dry, and with the windy conditions wildfires can easily be ignited. Visitors who plan to enjoy campfires should carry enough extra water to be used specifically to extinguish campfires; avoid building fires on windy days; use metal grills and fire rings where provided; otherwise choose campfire sites carefully which are devoid of vegetation above, below or around the fire site; maintain small fires with no fuel protruding from the grill or fire ring and ensure all fires and smoking materials are completely extinguished and cold to the touch before leaving them for any reason.  (Drown with water, stir, drown and continue until cold. “Smothering” a fire with dirt is not sufficient to put the fire “dead out.”)  Cigarette butts should be placed in ashtrays.  Fireworks are prohibited year-round on all National Forest lands.        

For information on the Gila National Forest, check out our website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/gila.