Boulder County, Colo. - The Sheriff's Office has enacted Stage 1 Fire Restrictions for unincorporated areas of western Boulder County, effective at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, June 25. This coincides with fire restrictions being put in place by the United States Forest Service.

The fire restrictions are being implemented due to increasing fire danger, lack of moisture, and the forecast for hot temperatures. In addition, severe to extreme drought conditions throughout Colorado and the western United States can impact the ability to obtain suppression resources if a fire is to establish in Boulder County.

The fire restrictions are in place for unincorporated areas of western Boulder County, to include:
• 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.

A map depicting the areas of Boulder County affected by the fire ban is included below.

The fire ban PROHIBITS:
a. Building, maintaining, attending, or using an open fire, campfire, or stove fire. This includes charcoal barbecues and grills.

b. EXCEPT: Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire in constructed, permanent fire pits or fire grates within developed recreation sites, as specifically listed below in this Section (b)(i), and on private lands along with the use of portable stoves, lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum, pressurized liquid fuel or a fully enclosed (sheepherder type) stove with a ¼” spark arrester type screen is permitted.

i. The following developed and hosted recreation sites allow fire in constructed, permanent fire pits or fire grates, in accordance with USFS policies and closures.

1. Kelly Dahl Campground
2. Rainbow Lakes Campground
3. Camp Dick Campground
4. Peaceful Valley Campground
5. Meeker Park Overflow Campground
6. Olive Ridge Campground
7. Brainard Lake Recreation Area (Includes Pawnee Campground)

c. Fireworks sales, use, and possession, including permissible fireworks.

d. Shooting or discharge of firearms for recreational purposes except for hunting with a valid and current hunting license on public lands.

e. Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

f. Operating a chainsaw without a USDA or SAE approved spark arrester properly installed and in effective working order, a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher kept with the operator and one round point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches readily available for use.

g. Welding or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame except in cleared areas of at least 10 feet in diameter and in possession of a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher.

h. Using an explosive.

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

For current fire, shooting and developed recreation site restrictions and seasonal closures for United States Forest Service properties, visit: www.fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/alerts-notices/?cid=fseprd533597.

Anyone found in violation of the fire restrictions 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.

These fire restrictions are for unincorporated Boulder County. If you live within, or are visiting an incorporated city or town, please check with that city or town directly to see what, if any, fire restrictions they may have in place.