In response to increasing fire danger, Summit County and the Dillon Ranger District of the White River National Forest will enter Stage 1 fire restrictions on Friday, October 11, 2024, at 12:01 a.m. The Board of County Commissioners adopted a resolution Tuesday, October 8, to enact these restrictions due to the warm, dry weather that has elevated fire danger to "Very High" in Summit County. This late-season move into Stage 1 Fire Restrictions was initiated on a recommendation from Summit County Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons.

"We feel fortunate to have had a lot of moisture for most of this summer, but the vegetation in Summit County is now very dry, as we often see this time of year," said Summit County Commissioner Tamara Pogue. "We don't expect that conditions will improve in the near future, and it's important for us to be proactive in preventing wildfires."

The Dillon Ranger District of the White River National Forest will also implement restrictions on Friday.

“Current forest conditions indicate low moisture in our timber and grasses," said U.S. Forest Service Deputy District Ranger Amanda Wheelock. "Low fuel moisture, coupled with low relative humidity, high daytime temperatures and dry, gusty winds, has elevated the fire danger to Very High in Summit County.”

Fire danger in Summit County typically increases in late summer and early fall, persisting until there is a layer of snow on the ground. Over the next several weeks, the Sheriff, fire districts, and U.S. Forest Service personnel will continue to monitor conditions to determine when it is appropriate to lift fire restrictions.

The Summit County Sheriff's Office and the Dillon Ranger District's dispersed recreation crew will be out on the forest enforcing the restrictions and educating campers, hikers and other forest users about activities that are prohibited under Stage 1 fire restrictions.

"During Stage 1 fire restrictions, consistent presence out in the community and the forest, combined with education and enforcement, are absolutely critical when our fire danger is elevated," said Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons.

What is Prohibited Under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions

Stage 1 fire restrictions prohibit building, maintaining, attending or using an open fire. An open fire is defined as any outdoor fire, including but not limited to campfires, warming fires, bonfires or controlled burns of any material.

The following activities are also prohibited under Stage 1 fire restrictions:

·               Use and/or sale of fireworks

·               Use of tracer ammunition

·               Use of any projectile containing explosive material, incendiary material or other flammable chemical substance

·               Use of recreational explosives, including explosive targets

·               Disposal of any burning object outdoors, including any cigarette, cigar or match

What is Allowed Under Stage 1 Restrictions

Fires are allowed in constructed, permanent metal fire pits or fire grates within developed recreation sites, such as campgrounds and picnic areas. All campgrounds on the Dillon Ranger District are already closed for the winter; during Stage 1 fire restrictions, campfires are not allowed within rock fire rings, such as those found at many designated dispersed campsites across the district.

Fires are allowed on private property if contained within a commercially designed and manufactured outdoor fireplace or portable outdoor fireplace (including chimeneas) that is assembled, located and operated in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and permitted by the local fire districts.

Any such device must also meet the following criteria:

·               The device must be equipped with a protective screen that reduces the spread of embers

·               The area directly underneath the fire is barren

·               The fire is at least 15 feet from any flammable material or structure

·               The size of the fire is no larger than 3 feet wide and 2 feet tall

Use of gas, charcoal or wood pellet grills are also allowed under Stage 1 restrictions.

Any of the permitted fire uses and activities must be conducted with the following safety measures in place:

·               The fire must be constantly attended by a responsible adult.

·               The fire must be extinguished and cool to the touch prior to it being left unattended.

·               The supervising adult must have available for immediate use a portable 2A10BC fire extinguisher, five gallons of water or a charged garden hose.

Smoking outdoors is allowed under Stage 1 fire restrictions if the individual is at least three feet away from any natural vegetation or flammable materials. On U.S. Forest Service lands, smoking is only permitted within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or in a barren area free of vegetation.

Operation of a chainsaw is permitted if the operator is equipped with a 2A10BC fire extinguisher available for immediate use. Welding is permitted when the device is at least 15 feet away from any natural vegetation or flammable materials and a 2A10BC fire extinguisher is available for immediate use.

Visit summitcountyco.gov/wildfire for more information and updates on fire restrictions.