All Forest Service lands, roads, and trails within the Monticello Ranger District were ordered closed on Tuesday at 12:00 p.m. as the Babylon Fire burns near Blanding in San Juan County. The temporary shutdown covers the district's National Forest System lands so crews can focus on suppression and cut down the chance of any new human-caused ignitions. Local authorities have posted road-closure updates and are pressing people to stay out of and away from the affected area.
Monticello Closure Details
The Manti-La Sal National Forest issued official Forest Order #04-10-26-05-02, which takes effect June 30 at 12:00 p.m. and runs through Aug. 31 unless it is rescinded earlier. The order prohibits entering the described area or using any roads or trails inside the closure. Incident personnel and those with specific permits are exempt, and the full text of the order and a detailed map are available from the Manti-La Sal National Forest.
Babylon Fire Growth And Park Closures
Canyonlands National Park temporarily closed The Needles district as the fire pushed north toward UT-211, according to Canyonlands National Park. KSL reported the blaze at roughly 38,399 acres and said four structures were destroyed as crews shifted to indirect containment tactics.
What Visitors And Residents Should Know
Visitors are being told not to attempt to enter the closed area at all. Special-use permit holders must coordinate any entry with incident staff and carry written authorization that is signed by the appropriate line officer. San Juan County officials have posted road-closure notices on Facebook, and the forest recommends calling the Monticello Ranger District at 435-636-3340 or checking the Manti-La Sal National Forest for maps and updates. The San Juan County Sheriff's Office posted the initial public notice.
Penalties For Violating The Order
Violating the closure order is a Class B misdemeanor that carries possible fines of up to $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or imprisonment for up to six months. The order, signed June 30 by Forest Supervisor Barbara Van Alstine, supersedes previous orders and will be lifted when conditions allow. Until then, officials are urging the public to keep a close eye on official forest alerts for any changes.
