FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 14, 2012
Denver ratchets up fire ban for Denver Mountain Parks
Ban now includes propane and gas grills
DENVER, CO — Because of continuing fire danger and conditions,
Denver Parks and Recreation has increased the fire ban in Denver Mountain Parks, effective immediately, which now includes banning the use of propane or gas grills in Denver Mountain Parks. In Denver Mountain Parks, this ban is in addition to the fire ban that Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper issued today.
This temporary fire ban shall remain in effect until superseded or rescinded by the Manager of Denver Parks and Recreation.
During critical fire situations, such as the current High Park Fire, any human-caused fires would divert valuable resources. Campfires, smoking and other open fires present an unacceptable risk to public safety in Denver Mountain Parks. Overcrowding in the Denver Mountain Parks on weekends and holidays during the summer oftentimes leads to situations in which parks users load and unload propane tanks and grills from vehicles, and carry/roll them along state highways and park roadways. This activity also increases the risk of fire from fuel tank mishandling and mechanical failure to an unacceptable level when coupled with the current dry conditions.
Failure to comply with the ban will result in fines and there are heavy penalties for those found to be responsible for starting a wildfire.
The following are prohibited in Denver Mountain Parks during the fire ban:
· Use of propane, gas, charcoal or open fires for grilling or cooking
· Anything that produces an open flame or has the potential to create and uncontrollable fire.
· Building, maintaining, attending or using any fire to burn trash, debris, fence rows or vegetation.
· Any campfire or warming fire.
· Smoking, except within and enclosed vehicle or building
· Operating a chain saw without a USDA or SAE approved spark protector and having a chemical arresting device properly installed in an in effective working order.
· Welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame
· Use of an explosive initiation system requiring a burning fuse line.
· Permissible fireworks, as defined by Colorado revised statues, 12-28-101.
Denver Mountain Parks cover more than 14,100 acres and are located in Jefferson, Clear Creek and Douglas Counties. For a full listing of Denver Mountain Parks, please visit
http://www.denvergov.org/parks
.
Denver Parks + Recreation (DPR) facilities are unrivaled in the Rocky Mountain West. The DPR system spans over a 138-year history from the first park created in 1868 to nearly 15,000 acres of urban parks and mountain parkland today. It embraces nearly 3,000 acres of “traditional” parks and parkways, 2,500 urban natural acres and 154.9 square miles of urban forest.
