Boulder County, Colo. - We anticipate that the National Weather Service (NWS) will be issuing either a Fire Weather Watch, or a Red Flag Warning tomorrow, Tuesday, September 19, due to the forecast of hot temperatures and high wind. Both a Watch and a Warning will automatically put fire restrictions (fire ban) in place in unincorporated Boulder County.

On any day where there is a Red Flag or Fire Weather Watch in place, it is illegal to do any burning, including: charcoal grills, camp fires/pits, chimineas, fireworks, outdoor welding, shooting tracer rounds or explosive type targets. The fire restrictions included both public and private land in unincorporated Boulder County. Only devices that are liquid fueled or gas fueled are allowed.

The forecast for Tuesday is to have wind gusts to 50 miles per hour are possible over the higher terrain and gusts to 40 miles per hour are possible at lower elevations. The temperature is expected to reach 70’s to the low 80’s around Boulder County.

Fire Weather Watch: Be Prepared. A Watch alerts land managers that upcoming weather conditions could result in critical fire weather conditions, which are expected to develop in the next 12 to 48 hours, but not more than 72 hours.

Red Flag Warning: Take Action. Be extremely careful with open flames. NWS issues a Red Flag Warning, in conjunction with land management agencies, to alert land managers to an ongoing or imminent critical fire weather pattern. NWS issues a Red Flag Warning when fire conditions are ongoing or expected to occur within the next 24 hours.

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