(Silver City, NM, June 30, 2026) — The Gila National Forest has issued a temporary closure order for the northwestern corner of the Gila Wilderness. This order is in place to protect public health and safety in an area with active firefighting operations and fire danger associated with the Sacaton Fire. The order goes into effect at 8 a.m. on July 1.
The lightning-caused Sacaton Fire was detected Sunday, June 21, in the Gila Wilderness. It is currently about 3.5 miles west of the Mogollon Baldy Lookout and approximately 12 miles east of the community of Pleasanton.
Under this closure order, the public is prohibited from entering all National Forest System lands, trails, and roads in the closure area. Violation of the order is punishable by fines and/or imprisonment. Federal, state, and local officers, firefighters, members of an organized rescue team, and any others authorized by Forest Service permit are exempt from the closure order.
View the full closure order on the Gila National Forest website.
About the Forest Service: The Forest Service has, for more than 100 years, brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live
Map of the Sacaton Fire closure area.
