A wildfire near Tabor Creek has burned 633 acres in Elko County, prompting the Bureau of Land Management to temporarily close the Tabor Creek Recreation Management Area Campground and BLM Access Road 1275.
The Forleen Fire was discovered at 7:31 p.m. August 24 and is a Type 3 incident. It was listed at 633 acres with no containment and no growth reported over the previous 24 hours. The fire's cause is listed as natural.
The fire is in the Great Basin region, and 77 responders are listed on the incident. The fire had been active for one day when the information was last updated.
The Elko County Fire Districts said additional crews arrived and made progress on the fire. A Nevada Division of Forestry helicopter also assisted firefighters. The Tabor Creek Campground is listed as an area threatened by the fire.
The BLM closure began August 25 and will remain in effect until further notice. The agency said the closure is intended to minimize risk to the public as fire activity increases.
The closure starts at the junction of BLM Road 1275 and County Road 753, also known as O'Neil-Deeth Road, and includes the Tabor Creek Recreation Management Area Campground. Other roads are not affected.
Public access to the closure area and use of BLM Access Road 1275 are prohibited. Drivers also cannot go through, around, or beyond restrictive signs, barricades, fences, or other traffic-control barriers.
The order exempts emergency vehicles and vehicles owned by the United States, Nevada or Elko County. Vehicles operating under permits for debris retrieval, road repair or construction, and environmental response and rehabilitation are also exempt.
Federal, state and local officers and employees performing official duties, organized rescue and firefighting personnel, people with written BLM authorization, and those working under BLM contracts or approved plans of operations are also exempt. Authorized users must have a written permit or contract signed by the BLM's authorized officer.
People who violate the closure can face federal penalties, including fines or imprisonment. State or local officials may also impose penalties for violations of state law.
The BLM said the closure notice will be posted at the Elko District Office's visitor service front desk, on the road leading to the Tabor Creek Recreation Area Campground and on the BLM Nevada website.
