July 3, 2018
KREMMLING, Colo. – Stage 2 fire restrictions begin for Bureau of Land Management lands in Grand County July 3. All BLM lands in Eagle and Summit counties are also under Stage 2 restrictions.
Stage 2 fire restrictions prohibit:
- The building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire, charcoal grill, coal, wood burning stove or sheepherders stove, including in developed camping and picnic grounds.
Devices using pressurized liquid or gas are exempted;
- Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, trailer, building or tent;
- Using an explosive requiring fuse or blasting caps, fireworks, rockets, exploding targets, and tracers or incendiary ammunition;
- Operating a chainsaw without an approved spark arrestor and without a chemical
pressurized fire extinguisher and a round-point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches that is readily available for use; - Welding, or operating an acetylene or other torches with open flame except with a current permit, contract or letter of authorization.
The use of fireworks, flares or other incendiary devices is always prohibited on federal lands.
Fire restrictions will be in place until further notice. Those found responsible for starting
wildfires will also face restitution costs of suppressing the fire.
Many other areas in Colorado are also under fire restrictions. For more information
about fire restrictions, go to https://www.coemergency.com/p/fire-bans-danger.html.
Fire officials with the Northwest Colorado Fire Management Unit are urging the public to be cautious this holiday week as conditions continue to dry in northwestern Colorado.
Precautions people should avoid parking in tall dry grass, or drive OHVs in areas where dry grass can be ignited by hot exhaust. It only takes one spark to start a wildfire – equipment should have working spark arresters and trailers should be inspected to ensure chains are not dragging.
