Teller County lowers fire restrictions to Stage I, allowing compliant campfires and grills
The Stage I restriction applies to private and public lands throughout Teller County and allows limited fires and hot work under strict safety conditions while high fire hazard remains.
Teller County lowered its countywide fire restriction from Stage II to Stage I effective at noon Sept. 2, allowing some compliant campfires, grills, indoor fireplaces and outdoor welding while continuing to prohibit uncontained burning, fireworks and explosives. The Board of County Commissioners’ resolution applies to private and public lands and remains in effect until the board amends or rescinds it.
The change followed improved weather and precipitation, though the county said conditions of high fire hazard remained. The restriction was requested by the Teller County sheriff and county fire chiefs, and commissioners approved it unanimously at a Sept. 2 special meeting.
Residents and land users may use charcoal grills, gas barbecues, and liquid-fueled gas stoves or lanterns if they are at least 10 feet from combustible materials. Campfires are allowed in permanent fire rings at designated public or private picnic areas and campgrounds, as well as in designated rings, permanent brick-and-mortar pits or fire grates on other private property.
Campfires must be at least 25 feet from structures, smaller than 3 feet in diameter or smaller than 3 feet in length and width, and at least 18 inches deep. Water or other approved fire-extinguishing equipment must be readily available, and someone knowledgeable in using it must attend the fire until it is completely extinguished.
The order also allows fires in indoor fireplaces, chainsaw use, and outdoor welding or cutting when approved fire-extinguishing equipment is readily available. Smoking is allowed only in areas cleared of flammable or combustible materials or in designated smoking areas.
The order continues to prohibit burning materials outside permitted fireplaces, rings, pits or grates; explosives and explosive targets, except for permitted mining operations; fireworks of any type, except commercial fireworks within city limits; and model rockets. Most irrigation-ditch burning is also prohibited, with a narrow exception for ditches completely surrounded by irrigated farmland when burning is necessary for crop survival.
The Teller County sheriff enforces the restriction on private lands, while agencies administering state and federal lands enforce it on those properties. A county burn permit does not exempt otherwise prohibited open burning. Any exemption must be granted by the applicable land-administering agency after the sheriff or agency determines the proposed activity is safe.
As of Sept. 12, the county’s public fire-restriction notice still listed the Stage I restriction as in effect.