COLORADO, USA — As multiple large wildfires burn on Colorado's Front Range, fire restrictions have been issued for several areas around the state.
All of Adams County has been placed under stage two fire restrictions as of noon on Wednesday. This means there is no open burning of any kind allowed, including by those who have burn permits.
Operating machines with external combustion engines is also not allowed.
Unincorporated areas of Arapahoe County, Centennial, Foxfield and Deer Trail are under a stage two burn ban, which is the most restrictive.
This means there are no outdoor fires of any kind allowed.
Stage two fire restrictions were enacted for all unincorporated areas of Boulder County on Thursday.
Those restrictions essentially mean no fires are allowed at all.
This is what is allowed under stage two restrictions:
- Smoking in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least ten feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
- Devices using pressurized liquid, gas or jellied petroleum (stoves, grills or lanterns) that include shut-off valves are permitted when used in an area at least three feet or more from flammable material such as grasses or pine needles.
- Shooting or discharge of firearms for hunting, with a valid and current hunting license on public lands.
- Operating a chainsaw with a USDA or SAE approved spark arrester properly installed and in effective working order, a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher kept with the operator and one round point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches readily available for use.
As of 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Clear Creek County is under stage two fire restrictions. This means all open burning, including in a permanent grate, is not allowed. Fireworks, smoking outside, shooting and off roading are also banned.
Delta County is under stage one fire restrictions, which prohibits open fires, burning trash, smoking outside and using fireworks.
Fires within permanent pits or grills are still allowed.
Stage two fire restrictions are currently in place in Douglas County. The following are not allowed:
- Open burning of any kind.
- Use of fireworks – including professional firework displays.
- Use of fires in chimineas, other portable fireplaces or patio fire pits.
- Campfires at developed campgrounds or picnic areas.
- Use of model rockets.
Fires are only allowed within indoor fireplaces, indoor wood burning stoves, liquid- or gas-fueled stoves grills and residential charcoal grills.
Since June 25, Elbert County has been under stage two burn restrictions. All fires with the exception of indoor fireplaces, indoor stoves, liquid- or gas-fueled appliances and supervised charcoal grills are prohibited.
Gilpin County issued a stage two fire ban on Wednesday afternoon. This means there is no open burning of any kind allowed within the county.
Only liquid gas or propane cooking stoves are allowed to be used outside.
Jefferson County issued temporary stage one fire restrictions on Tuesday morning.
Campfires are only allowed within permanently-constructed grates. Smoking outdoors, open burning and fireworks are also prohibited.
Wednesday afternoon, Larimer County enacted fire restrictions which prohibit open fires, smoking outdoors, fireworks, incendiary devices and welding.
Indoor fireplaces, indoor wood stoves and gas-fueled fires are still allowed.
The restrictions will be in place until Aug. 31.
Rocky Mountain National Park announced a complete burn ban within the park on Thursday.
Stage one fire restrictions were enacted in Las Animas County on July 27. The resolutions bans all open fires with the following exceptions:
- Campfires in permanent fire rings with covering grates.
- Liquid-fueled appliances.
- Fireplaces within buildings.
- Burning of vegetative waste with a controlled burn permit.
The Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation is under stage one fire restrictions, which prohibits open fires in undeveloped areas, smoking outdoors, using explosives and welding.
All counties not listed do not have any active fire restrictions, as of 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
Public lands are often under different fire restrictions, issued by the U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management.
Officials at RMNP announced Thursday morning stage two bans were in effect, meaning no fires at all would be permitted within the park.
If you are going to be recreating on National Forest or BLM land, check for current restrictions using the links below. State parks will often follow the same restrictions as the county they are located in, but always check the park website before visiting.
- USFS Arapaho Forest and Roosevelt National Forest
- USFS Grand Mesa Uncompahgre Forest and Gunnison National Forests
- USFS Pike and San Isabel National Forest
- USFS San Juan National Forest
- USFS White River National Forest
- USFS Medicine Bow and Routt National Forest
- USFS Rio Grande National Forest
- BLM Northwest District
- BLM Upper Colorado River District
- BLM Rocky Mountain District
- BLM Southwest District