Image courtesy of The Bureau of Land Management’s website
The Bureau of Land Management Royal Gorge Field Office has implemented fire restrictions in seven counties of central and eastern Colorado, including Chaffee County, due to dry conditions and the need to conserve emergency response resources during the coronavirus pandemic known as COVID-19.
Stage two fire restrictions are effective on BLM land in Chaffee, Lake and Park counties. Stage one fire restrictions are in place on BLM land in El Paso, Pueblo, Teller and Boulder counties.
Stage Two fire restrictions prohibit:
- Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, charcoal barbecue, or grills are prohibited on federal lands. The use of portable stoves, lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed.
- 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 working, a chemical fire extinguisher of not less than 8 ounces capacity by weight, and one round point shovel with an overall length of at least 36 inches.
- Using a welder, either arc or gas, or operating acetylene or other torches with open flame.
- Using exploding targets.
Stage One fire restrictions prohibit:
- Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire except within agency-provided fire grates at developed recreation sites. Devices using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel are permitted.
- 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 working, a chemical fire extinguisher of not less than 8 ounces capacity by weight, and one round point shovel with an overall length of at least 36 inches. (continued on next page)
- Using a welder, either arc or gas, or operating acetylene or other torches with an open flame, except in cleared areas of at least 10 feet in diameter with a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher of not less than 8 ounces capacity.
- Using exploding targets.
“Multiple counties throughout central and eastern Colorado have implemented fire restrictions,” explained Royal Gorge Field Office Manager Keith Berger. “To support the counties’ efforts to further reduce the risk of wildfires, BLM will also be implementing fire restrictions on public lands within these counties.”
Until further notice, fire restrictions will be in place. For more information about fire restrictions, visit the Rocky Mountain District Fire Restrictions.
Recent Comments