Fire restrictions lowered from Level 2 to Level 1 in western Boulder County

This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

On Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at 12:00 p.m., Sheriff Joe Pelle lowered the fire restrictions that were in place for western Boulder County from Level 2 to Level 1. While we received some rainfall in Boulder County, and the moisture did help lower the fire danger, it was not enough to completely remove the fire danger, which is why we will continue to have fire restrictions in place.

The Level 1 fire restrictions include the mountain areas of Boulder County. The mountain areas include any and all unincorporated areas of the county:

West of CO Highway 93 (CO-93), from its intersection with the southern boundary of Boulder County until, and including, its intersection with CO Highway 119 (CO-119);

West of Broadway Avenue in the City of Boulder, from its intersection with CO-119 until, and including, its intersection with US Highway 36 (US-36);

West of US-36, from its intersection with Broadway Avenue until its intersection with the northern boundary of Boulder County;

West of the western boundary of the Rabbit Mountain Open Space until, and including, US-36; and;

All of the Rabbit Mountain Open Space property.

The fire restrictions PROHIBIT:

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

• Use of all personal 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 acetylene or other open-flame torches, except in cleared areas of at least 10 feet in diameter, and with a chemical, pressurized fire-extinguisher immediately available for use;

• Using an explosive.

The fire restrictions ALLOW:

Building, maintain, attending or using a fire in constructed, permanent fire pits or fire grates, within developed recreation sites where a fee is paid (see below), 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 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

Brainard Lake Recreation Area, including the Pawnee Campground

For current fire, shooting and developed recreation site restrictions and seasonal closures for USFS properties, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/home/?cid=FSEPRD583820.

For current fire restrictions in Eldorado Canyon State Park, please visit the following website: http://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/Parks/eldoradocanyon.

Anyone found in violation of the fire ban may be convicted of a class two petty offense 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.

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. 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."