Virtually simultaneously on April 21 and 22, Boulder County, Gilpin County, and the United States Forest Service (USFS) have all instituted fire bans.

Boulder County

Sheriff Joe Pelle has enacted Level 1 Fire Restrictions, effective Thursday, April 21, for all areas of unincorporated Boulder County. The fire restrictions are being implemented due to increasing fire danger, lack of moisture, and the forecast for warm temperatures.

The fire restrictions PROHIBITS:

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

The sale, use and possession of fireworks, including permissible fireworks;

Shooting or discharging firearms for recreational purposes, except for hunting with a valid and current hunting license on public land;

Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three 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 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 cleared areas of at least 10 feet in diameter, and with a chemical, pressurized fireextinguisher immediately available for use;

Using an explosive; and

Parking motorized vehicles in grass or vegetated areas that can come in contact with the underside of the vehicle.

The fire restrictions ALLOW:

Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire in constructed, permanent fire pits or fire grates, within developed recreation sites (see below for a list of these sites), and on private lands;

The use of portable stoves; lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel; or a fully enclosed (sheepherder-type) stove with a 1/4” spark arrester-type screen.

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 Sheriff Pelle finds that the hazardous conditions have subsided.

Anyone found in violation of the fire restrictions may be convicted of a civil infraction and may be subject to up to a $1,000 fine, in addition to any possible civil penalties. Higher fines may be imposed for subsequent offenses.

Gilpin County

Sheriff Kevin Armstrong issued a Stage 1 Fire Ban on April 21, saying “With the winds and higher temperatures predicted for the next 7-14 days, and the more frequent Red Flag Warnings, I believe the safety of our community warrants these measures be taken.”

Not allowed:

Any fires on public lands

Use of exploding targets, tracer rounds and Tannerite

Smoking outdoors in an area that is not cleared of all combustible material

Operating chainsaw of off-road vehicle withour spark arrester properly installed

All personal fireworks

What IS allowed:

Constructed permanent fire pits within private proerty of fee-based campground (must have at least a gallon of water near fire)

Hunting with valid and current license

Shooting firearms on private property with proper backdrop and safety measures

Propane grills,firepits (with shut-off valve) and wood pellet grills

Welding and cutting torches no closer than 30 feet from undeveloped area

National Forests along northern Front Range

Due to the forecast of continuing dry, warm conditions and recent wildfires, the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests’ Clear Creek, Boulder and Canyon Lakes ranger districts enacted Stage 1 fire restrictions effective at noon Friday, April 22. Stage 1 fire restrictions limit where and what type of fires visitors can have and remain in place until rescinded.

The following is prohibited under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions:

Igniting, building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire (including fires fueled by charcoal or briquettes) outside of a permanent metal or concrete fire pit or grate that the Forest Service has installed and maintained at its developed recreation sites (campgrounds and picnic areas)

Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

Operating a chainsaw without an effective and properly installed spark arrestor, a fire extinguisher kept with the operator, and a shovel.

Blasting, welding, or operating a torch with an open flame without being in a cleared area of at least 10 feet in diameter and having a fire extinguisher kept with the operator

Using an explosive. This includes but is not limited to fuses, blasting caps, fireworks, rockets, exploding targets, tracers, and incendiary ammunition. (Fireworks are always prohibited on National Forest lands).

Violation of Stage 1 fire restrictions could result in a maximum fine of $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for more than six months, or both. If responsible for causing a wildfire, one could be held accountable for suppression costs of that fire.

Be sure to visit the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests’ Know Before You Go page to see fire restriction orders and maps.

The Boulder County notice added this timely information:

The following United States Forest Service (USFS) developed recreation sites are located within Boulder County and are exempted from the fire restrictions, in accordance with USFS policies and closures, when open and staffed: Kelly Dahl Campground, Rainbow Lakes Campground, Camp Dick Campground, Peacefully Valley Campground, Meeker Park Overflow Campground, Olive Ridge Campground, and the Brainard Lake Recreation Area, which includes the Pawnee Campground.