Open Burning

SLASH PILE BURN SEASON IS CLOSED
The season will open when we have SEASON LONG snow on the ground.  We are accepting burn permit applications in preparation for the upcoming season:

FILLABLE FORM SLASH PILE BURN PERMIT APPLICATION
PRINTABLE VERSION OF SLASH PILE PERMIT APPLICATION
**There will be a Public Hearing on November 13, 2018 to set new fees for Burn Permits.  Click HERE for more information.** Other documents for review: Background info; 2006-2018 Summary
We get many questions about the use of burn barrels.  They are not legal in the State of Colorado, the following is information from the CO Dept. of Public Health & Environment:
Why Can't I burn in a burn barrel?
  • It's the law--Burn barrels are defined as incinerators using the definition given in the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) Common Provisions Regulation.  Incinerators require Construction Permits and are subject to federal and state testing requirements and regulations.  Incinerators are required by the EPA to have pollution control systems that reduce emissions.
  • Burn barrels do not combust efficiently, resulting in limited oxygen and lower temperatures that create smoke, odors and a variety of toxic pollutants like dioxins.  Dioxins are known carcinogens and can increase the risk of both short-term and long-term health problems.  Burn barrels not only impact your own health, but the health of your neighbors and the environment.  The smoke created by burn barrels also creates a nuisance.
Under a delegation of authority from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Grand County allows large-scale open burning during the winter months only and only during favorable air quality conditions.  Our program only applies to private property owners and slash piles, not trash or buildings. The opening and closing of burn season depends upon weather and the presence of sufficient, permanent snow pack throughout most of the county. As a result, start and end dates vary from year to year, but generally the burn season runs from late November through March. Grand County Division of Natural Resources begins issuing open burn permits in mid-October and opens the season when there is sufficient snowpack countywide. These permits are valid for an entire burn season and expire on or around April 1, whenever the snowpack is not sufficient for safe burning. If you have questions or for more information, please call our office at 970-887-0745.

The general conditions of the permit are as follows:
  • Approval must be given by the Division of Natural Resources for ignition on a daily basis during the burn season.
  • Inspection of piles may be required by the division.
  • The burn area will be attended at all times while flames are present.
  • The permit must be on-site with the individual supervising the burn.
  • Hazardous or toxic materials or construction debris cannot be burned in an open burn pile - only untreated wood is permitted in a burn pile.
  • It is recommended that pile sizes not be larger than 15 ft x 15 ft x 10 ft to allow for maximum opportunity to burn.
  • Piles and material in piles should be dried for a minimum of one year prior to ignition. Large diameter material (greater than 6 inches in diameter) cannot exceed 20% of the pile density.
  • Stumps and/or dirt are not allowed in open burn piles and piles containing dirt / stumps cannot be permitted.
  • Homeowner association (HOA) regulations take primacy over county regulations.
  • Any of the above conditions not met shall render the burn permit null and void and enforcement action by Grand County and possibly the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment can result.
  • Burn season will have closures on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day & New Years Day.

    • Slash Pile Burn Season
     2017-18      Summary

     
    378 Permits issued Countywide
    Fire Protection District#1 (Granby) 94
    Fire Protection District#2 (Grand Lake) 73
    Fire Protection District#3 (HSSP) 18
    Fire Protection District#4 (Fraser Valley) 145
    Fire Protection District#5 (Kremmling) 48

    102 Days long (Dec 26 to April 8) allowing a total of 1121 hours of  burning

    3,349 Piles permitted with 3,120 piles burned

    7,517,119 Cubic Feet (CF) of material permitted with 6,820,923 CF burned

    Of the 378 permits, only 30 did not report any burning activity

    Links for checking fire bans and forecasts:
    Fire bans/restrictions in CO
    Red Flag Warnings in CO     

    Website Resources

Document Resources

  1. CDPHE Open Burning Fact Sheet
  2. Grand County Department of Natural Resources Delegation of Authority
  1. Grand County Open Burning Management Plan
  2. State of Colorado Regulation 9 - Open Burning