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Stage 1 Fire Restrictions Begin Wednesday in Garfield County

Firefighter/Engineer J. Baker

 

Beginning April 15, 2020, at 12:00 AM, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office along with the Bureau of Land Management-Colorado River Valley Field Office, the US Forest Service and the seven Fire Districts in Garfield County will enact Stage 1 fire restrictions. The Sheriff's office says "We are all aware of the extra burden that has been placed on our First Responders due to the COVID-19 outbreak in our country and our communities. There are simply not enough firefighter/EMTs available for COVID-19 response and non-essential burning responses." The announcement comes after two controlled burns near Rifle and Silt went out of control on Friday and Saturday.

  The release issued Tuesday also mentions spacing requirements needed to maintain firefighter and crew safety, and the importance of maintaining "pristine" air quality for those who may already be experiencing respiratory issues.

  • All burn permits are postponed/Canceled until further notice with the issuance of Stage 1 Burn Restrictions.
  • Campfires are only allowed within designated fire grates in Developed Areas (i.e. a permanent in-ground containment structure or store-bought fire pit) A temporary fire pans and rock campfire rings will not be acceptable.
  • no fires of any type including charcoal in Undeveloped Areas.
  • no smoking except within a designated area, enclosed vehicle or building, a developed area or in an area free of combustibles

  • no use of explosive materials, including “exploding” targets or bullets and tracer rounds

  • Exercise common sense and industry safety practice when welding or operation of an acetylene or other similar torch with open flame always cleared safe area of vegetation and combustibles.

"Developed Area" - an area, whether within city limits or rural, that is groomed, manicured and or watered, where grasses, brush and trees are regularly attended to by land owner. This includes residential and business areas, improved recreational areas, parks and other common areas.

 

"Undeveloped Area" - lands that are not groomed, manicured, or watered, where grasses, brush and trees have been allowed to grow in a natural environment. This includes green belts that are not landscaped or manicured, open space lands, non-manicured park lands, and other areas where the fire hazard presented by the vegetation is determined by the authority having jurisdiction or designee to be an undue wildland fire hazard. combustibles.