Neighboring Counties Enact Fire Restrictions

Summit County Enters Stage 1 Fire Restrictions
Posted June 15, 2021

Open fires are prohibited including campfires, bonfires, and fireworks

Contact: Nicole Valentine, Director of Communications, Summit County

SUMMIT COUNTY – The Summit County Board of Commissioners enacted Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, effective at 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 18. The commissioners enacted the change during a special meeting Tuesday, in recognition of the extremely high fire danger resulting from record-breaking temperatures this past week and decreased precipitation, which has led to early season wildfire activity in the county, including the Straight Creek fire, which occurred this past Thursday and was just brought under control over the weekend.

“These restrictions are necessary given the extreme fire conditions and no relief from the weather in the forecast. Career wildfire professionals commented to me during the Straight Creek fire that it broke all the rules occurring so early in the season in a drainage with a running creek. We have unprecedented conditions now for wildfire,” Summit County Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons said. “We need to do all we can to prevent additional human caused fires, and we really need the public to be extremely cognizant of the fire danger.”

The county has now met all four conditions in the Fire Restriction Process utilized by Summit County and the U.S. Forest Service to determine when to implement Stage 1 restrictions:

• Energy release component 90-96% last 5 days with representative sig groups
• High human caused risk
• Live fuel moistures are at or approaching historic thresholds
• No significant relief in fire weather forecast during the next 7 days

The board’s decision has the support of local fire districts and the Dillon Ranger District of the White River National Forest, which will also enter Stage 1 Fire Restrictions beginning at 12:01 am Friday, June 18. It is estimated that the county and the forest services will remain in Stage 1 for at least the next week and we are closely monitoring conditions as we approach the requirements for Stage 2 restrictions.

“We are steadily moving towards Stage 2 thresholds,” said Summit County Sherriff Jaime FitzSimons. “The fuel moisture levels and weather patterns we are seeing are unprecedented. We are monitoring them and will remain in daily communication with our local, state, and federal partners to decide when it would be appropriate to move to Stage 2.”

Prohibited Activities: The following activities and uses are prohibited under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions

• Open Fires: Open Fires, except those that have been permitted by the applicable local fire district in the permitted activities. For purposes of these Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, Open Fires shall be defined as any outdoor fire, including but not limited to campfire, warming fires, bonfires, or the prescribed burning of fence rows, fields, wildlands, trash and debris.
  
• Smoking: Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle or building, designated outdoor areas where smoking is permitted, or while stopped in an area that is at least three feet in diameter and is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
  
• Fireworks: The use and/or sale of recreational fireworks.
  
• Explosives: The use of tracer ammunition, including recreational use of any projectile containing explosive material, incendiary material, or other chemical substance. The use of recreational explosives, including explosive targets.
  
• Disposal: Disposal of any burning object outdoors, including without limitation, any cigarette, cigar or match.
  
• Chainsaws: Operation of a chainsaw is prohibited without a USDA or Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) approved spark arrester properly installed and in effective working order, a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher (with a minimum 8 oz. capacity and rating of 2A) kept with the operator, and one round point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches readily available for use.
  
• Commercial and Industrial Operations: Blasting, grinding, welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame without being in a cleared area of at least 10 feet in diameter and keeping a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher (with a minimum 8 oz. capacity and rating of 2A) with the operator.

Permitted Activities: The following activities and uses are allowed under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions

1. Solid-Fuel Burning Fires (Wood or Charcoal) - Igniting, building, and maintaining fires on private property must be permitted by the applicable local fire protection district and meet the following requirements:


2. • The fire is contained to:
     A permanent outdoor fireplace or fire ring with a screen to reduce the spread of embers; or
     A portable outdoor fireplace that is assembled, located, and operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions with a screen to reduce the spread of embers. For purposes of these restrictions, a portable outdoor fireplace means a portable, outdoor, solid-fuel-burning (wood or charcoal) fireplace that is constructed of steel, concrete, clay or other noncombustible material; or
     A commercially designed chiminea with a screen to reduce the spread of embers;
   
   
   • The area directly underneath the fire is barren;
   • The fire is at least fifteen (15) feet from any flammable material and/or structure;
   • The size of the fire is no larger than (3) feet wide and (2) feet tall; AND
   • Safety measures are in place as required by subsection f below.
   • The occurrence of any permissible fire, as detailed above in subsection 1, must also include the following safety measures:
     
     The fire must be constantly attended by a responsible adult;
     The fire must be extinguished and cool to the touch prior to being left unattended; and
     
     The supervising adult must have available for immediate utilization a minimum of:
     (1) one portable fire extinguisher with a minimum 2A10BC rating; OR
     A minimum 5 gallon water container; OR
     A charged garden hose.


3. Liquid or Gas-Fueled Devices: heating devices, stoves, grills, lanterns, fire pits, fireplaces or fire tables that include shut-off valves are permitted allowed when used in an area at least three or more feet from flammable materials such as grasses or pine needles.
4. Fires Contained Inside Permanent Structures: Any fire contained within a fireplace, stove, wood burning stove, or pellet stove designed for and located within a fully enclosed permanent structure.
5. Developed Recreational Site: Any fire within a campground or picnic area (developed recreation site) contained to a permanent metal or concrete fire pit or grate that the USDA Forest Services has installed and maintained.
6. Grills, Stoves and Smokers: Use of gas, charcoal and/or wood pellet grills, smokers and barbecues, coal and wood burning stoves and sheepherder’s stoves.
7. Agricultural and Large Pile Burns: with the appropriate permits from the local fire protection district and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
8. Slash Burns: with the appropriate permit from the local fire protection district.
9. Administrative Fires: Fires administered by any Federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
10. Hot Air Balloons: Inflation or propulsion of a hot air balloon.
11. Off-Highway Vehicles: Use of an “off-highway vehicle” in compliance with C.R.S. 33-14.5-101 et. seq. and Summit County Ordinance No. 09.

“Given the danger, we need individuals to make smart decisions. Even though we are moving into Stage 1 on Friday, we need to consider ourselves in very severe wildfire risk,” said Commissioner Tamara Pogue. “Each individual needs to take personal responsibility. Please consider the risk and reconsider any activity that has the potential to ignite a fire.”

According to the National Weather Service, Summit County is projected to have below-normal precipitation and higher-than-normal temperatures over the next several weeks. The U.S. Drought Monitor reports that southern Summit County is "abnormally dry" and northern Summit County is experiencing "severe drought" conditions.

For more information about current fire restrictions and wildfire prevention, visit www.SummitCountyCO.gov/wildfire . Register for emergency notifications at www.SCAlert.org .

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www.summitcountyco.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=793

Fire Restriction Information
Quick Reference Guide
Effective June 17, 2021 at 12:00 PM

Gilpin County FIRE RESTRICTIONS Stage 1

• Building, maintaining, attending, or using an open fire, campfire or stove fire (including charcoal barbecues and grills) in dispersed camping areas on public land;


• Any fire not within a permanently constructed fire pit, ring, or grate on Private land including tiki torches and bon fires;


• Use of all personal fireworks;


• Smoking, unless in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter consisting of non-combustible material;


• Operating a chainsaw without a USDA or SAE-approved spark arrestor properly installed and in effective working order. A chemical, pressurized fire-extinguisher must be kept with the operator, and at least one round-point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches must be readily available for use;


• Welding or operating an acetylene or other open-flame torch, except in an area on non-combustible material at least 30 feet in diameter, and with a chemical, pressurized fire-extinguisher immediately available for use.


• Shooting or discharging firearms for recreational purposes

• Building, maintaining, attending, or using a recreational fire in permanent fire pits, fire grates, portable outdoor fireplaces only within developed recreation sites which charge fees (see below), and on private land:
  • Kelly Dahl, Cold Springs, Pickle Gulch Group Campground, Pickle Gulch Picnic Area, Columbine Campground, Reverends Ridge, Aspen Meadows, Rifleman Phillips, Works Ranch, Kriley Ponds, Base Camp, Denver West/Central City KOA Holiday, developed campgrounds and picnic areas within Golden Gate Canyon State Park


• Hunting with a valid and current hunting license


• Mechanical stoves and appliances fueled by bottled or liquid gas which allow the operator to control and extinguish the flame with a shut off-valve, are permitted provided that such devices are approved by Underwriters Laboratory, Inc (UL).


• Charcoal barbecues must be surrounded by a 3-foot non-combustible perimeter.

These fire restrictions are for Gilpin County. If you live within, or are visiting Black Hawk or Central City, please check with that city directly to see what, if any, fire restrictions they may have in place.


FIREWORKS: As defined in section C.R.S. § 24-33.5-2001(5), and shall specifically include permissible fireworks as defined in section C.R.S. § 24-33.5-2001(11).

LIQUID OR GAS FUELED APPLIANCES: Appliances such as fire pits, grills, camp stoves, and Tiki torches that burn liquid or gaseous fuels and can be shut off. This does not include any device that burns solid fuels such as wood or charcoal and which must be extinguished.

OPEN FIRE AND OPEN BURNING: Any outdoor fire larger than a recreational fire and not contained within a portable outdoor fireplace. This includes but is not limited to campfires, bonfires, warming fires, the lighting of any fused explosives, permissible fireworks, the use of model rockets, lanterns, and the burning of fence lines or rows, grasslands, fields, farm lands, ditches, rangelands, and wild lands. Permits from the fire district are required for open fires.

PORTABLE OUTDOOR FIREPLACE: A commercially purchased portable, outdoor, solid-fuel-burning fireplace that may be constructed of steel, concrete, clay, or other non-combustible material. A portable outdoor fireplace may be open in design, or may be equipped with a small hearth opening and a short chimney or chimney opening at the top. These devices must be operated according to the manufacturer’ s instructions with all covers, screens, spark arresters, and grates in place. Portable outdoor fireplaces shall not be operated within 20 feet of a structure and have a 3-foot non-combustible perimeter surrounding the fire.

RECREATIONAL FIRE: An outdoor fire burning material other than rubbish or debris, i.e. clean dry wood, where the fuel being burned is not contained in a portable outdoor fireplace, or barbeque grill and has a total fuel area of 3 feet or less in diameter and 3 feet or less in flame height for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth or similar purposes. This includes fires in fixed, permanent outdoor fireplaces; and barbeque pit fires. Recreational fires shall not be constructed within 20 feet of a structure and have a 3-foot non-combustible perimeter surrounding the fire.

BONFIRE: Any fire that exceeds the size limitation and height of a recreational fire.

WELDING AND CUTTING TORCH APPLIANCES: Gas cylinder mixtures, electric and/or portable powered welders and cutting appliances which produce heat, flame, sparks, molten metal slag, etc. violations of these prohibitions, upon conviction, is punishable by a fine of not more than $600.00.

PERMANENT FIRE RING: A fire ring is designed to contain a fire that is built directly upon the ground, such as a campfire. Fire rings have no bottom, and are simply circles made of forged metal, stones, concrete, etc. which surround and contain a fire.

NON-COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL: A material that, under the conditions anticipated, will not ignite or burn when subjected to fire or heat. Examples: Stone, rock, gravel, concrete, asphalt, steel and bare mineral soil devoid of vegetation.

Failure to comply with this Order is subject to penalties contained in C.R.S. § 25-1-516 and C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501, et.al including a fine of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) and imprisonment in the County Jail for up to eighteen (18) months. Additionally, the attached Colorado statute C.R.S. § 13-21-105 et.al provides further incentive to not violate the ban or cause a fire. A person violating our fire ban would be either strictly liable or per se negligent and liable under this statute. Any person violating the fire ban causing a fire would be liable for the actual damages to anyone injured include personal or real property damage or loss of life and the costs to any fire department, district or other emergency responders or resources responding to the incident. Costs of fighting fire can easily exceed $1M in the first day alone.

On PUBLIC Property

18-9-117(1)(g) Unlawful Conduct on Public Property (M-2)

(DEFENDANT) did build and maintain a fire in a public place in violation of a lawful order and regulation. Stage (1/2/3) Fire Restrictions enacted on (DATE).

Up to a $1,000 fine and/or up to 12 months imprisonment

On PRIVATE Property

18-8-102(1) Obstructing Government Operations (M-3)

(DEFENDANT) did intentionally and unlawfully obstruct the performance of a governmental function, Stage (1/2/3) Fire Restrictions enacted on (DATE), by a public servant by building and maintaining a fire.

Up to a $750 fine and/or up to 6 months imprisonment

These fire restrictions are for Gilpin County. If you live within, or are visiting Black Hawk or Central City, please check with that city directly to see what, if any, fire restrictions they may have in place.

Permitted fires by persons with a permit specifically authorizing the prohibited act such as professional fireworks display. Contact must be made with the permitting authority to verify the status of permits issued prior to the establishment of burn restrictions.

Burning of explosive wastes by manufacturer of explosives in areas zoned for industrial use when the burning is supervised by the fire protection district

Fire Department / District training fires

Open fires or open burning by any federal, state, or local officer in the performance of official fire suppression functions

Individuals operating under any of the above exemptions shall take adequate measures to prevent uncontrolled fires. Possible measures include, but are not limited to:

• Containers of adequate water or dry soil nearby.
• Shovels, fire extinguishers, or other extinguishing agents nearby.
• Coordination with the local fire department or district to be on scene or standby during an activity.