Forecast continues for hot temperatures and dry conditions

Boulder County, Colo. - Sheriff Curtis Johnson and the Board of County Commissioners enacted Stage 2 fire restrictions, effective immediately, today, Thursday, August 1, for Boulder County. Although the western part of Boulder County was already under Stage 1 restrictions as of July 1, 2024, the presence of two recent fires within the county, other active fires in neighboring jurisdictions, and extremely hot and dry weather have resulted in the need for enhanced restrictions throughout the entirety of unincorporated Boulder County. The sheriff’s office asks all residents and visitors in Boulder County use extreme caution with anything that could potentially cause a spark, flame, or fire.

Stage 2 fire restrictions PROHIBIT the following activities in all areas of unincorporated Boulder County:

• Building, maintaining, attending or using an open fire, campfire, or stove fire on private and public lands. This includes charcoal grills and barbecues, coal and wood burning stoves and sheepherder’s stoves and includes use in developed camping and picnic grounds.
• Fireworks sales, use, and possession, including otherwise legal fireworks.
• Shooting or discharge of firearms for recreational purposes.
• Smoking, except 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.
• Operating a chainsaw without 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.
• Using an explosive of doing any kind of blasting work. This includes but is not limited to fuses or blasting caps, fireworks, rockets, exploding targets, and tracers or incendiary ammunition.
• Welding or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame outdoors.
• Possessing or using a motor vehicle off established roads, motorized trails or established parking areas, except when parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of the vehicle.

The fire restrictions ALLOW:

• 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.

For current fire, shooting and developed recreation site restrictions and seasonal closures for USFS properties, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/arp/alerts-notices/?aid=57718.

Anyone found in violation of the fire ban may be convicted of a civil infraction and may be subject to a $500 fine, in addition to any possible civil penalties. Higher fines may be imposed for subsequent offenses.

The fire restrictions do not affect open fires within incorporated cities and towns; however, residents and visitors must comply with applicable ordinances and regulations in their respective cities and towns. The fire restrictions will be in effect until the hazardous conditions have subsided.

Colorado state statutes authorize counties to impose fire restrictions, "to a degree and in a manner that the board of county commissioners deems necessary to reduce the danger of wildfires within those portions of the unincorporated areas of the county where the danger of forest or grass fires is found to be high based on competent evidence."