FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25, 2021
Photo Credit: Darby Howard
JOINT RELEASE
GRAND COUNTY MOVES FROM STAGE 2 TO STAGE 1 FIRE RESTRICTIONS
GRAND COUNTY, Colorado – The Grand County Board of Commissioners supported Sheriff Brett Schroetlin’s recommendation and approved a resolution moving Grand County into Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, effective Thursday, August 26, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. The Commissioners’ decision is a collaborative effort between local fire districts, the Bureau of Land Management’s Kremmling Field Office, the Sulphur Ranger District of the Arapaho National Forest, and the Routt National Forest. All of Grand County’s federal partners will also move to Stage 1 Fire Restrictions at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday.
The Sheriff’s Office, in cooperation with its federal partners and local fire districts consistently monitor fire conditions and the necessity of fire restrictions. The decisions surrounding fire restrictions are based on a scientific fire restriction matrix that is used across northwest Colorado. The Sheriff’s recommendation was made after these cooperating agencies jointly reviewed the latest scientific data showing reduced fire risk in the county.
“While conditions are much improved across Grand County, lower fire risk doesn’t mean no risk,” said Arapaho National Forest Fire Management Officer Cody Peel. “People will be allowed to have campfires in developed sites, but they still need to make sure they build fires properly, contained within the provided metal or concrete rings, and use large buckets of water to put all the coals out cold.”
Under Grand County Stage 1 Restrictions, open fires are prohibited outside of developed recreation sites which means that dispersed campfires in forested areas are not permitted. The following activities and uses are also prohibited under Stage 1 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 (paid campgrounds and picnic areas).
• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed campground or picnic area or while stopped in an area of at least six feet in diameter that is barren of all combustible materials.
• Operating a chainsaw without an USDA or SAE approved spark-arresting device properly installed and in working order.
• Welding or operating torches with open flame, except in an area of at least ten feet in diameter that is barren of all combustible materials.
• Incendiary devices (Note: fireworks are always illegal on the national forest).
The following activities and uses are allowed under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions:
• Open fires in developed campgrounds with fees and hosts or picnic areas with permanently constructed fire grates and/or charcoal grills.
• Fires contained within liquid or gas fueled stoves, lanterns or heating devices, and approved wood pellet grills and stoves.
• Open fires at private residences within permanent or portable outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, chimineas, and/or grills.
• Permissible fireworks according to state statute. The permitted, professional fireworks displays in Grand County are allowed. Fireworks are never allowed on the National Forests
Help us prevent more wildfires and become a steward of these places we all must care for by checking the official source.
• Grand County Wildfire Council at https://bewildfireready.org
• Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/arp/knowbefore
• Medicine Bow - Routt National Forests at www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mbr/fire/?cid=FSEPRD889210
• Bureau of Land Management Northwest District www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-information/colorado/northwest-district
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