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Larimer County Emergency Information

Emergency: Fire Restriction

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Time Posted		Updated Information
2:33 PM - Aug 8		We are no longer under fire restrictions but the hot weather persists, at least for now. Lets all be careful out there. The following is from the county's press release yesterday (Tuesday): The Board of Larimer County Commissioners today lifted fire restrictions at their weekly Administrative Matters meeting. This was on the recommendation of Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith, “At this time we are not in high fire danger and the fire restriction criteria that we use indicates that we do not need to be in any restrictions. Surrounding County's and the USFS have also removed their restrictions and bans.” Although the forecast is for typical August weather with the usual monsoonal flow of moisture into the area, citizens are reminded to be careful with fire and potential sources of ignition. Fire restrictions were set to expire September 30, 2012.
1:29 PM - Aug 2		The Arapahoe-Roosevelt Forest has removed their restrictions on open fires although those in Larimer County, for the immediate time being, remain in place. Our monsoon has obviously helped and the absence of repetitive hot, dry and windy days of June and early July have put us in pretty good shape. Accordingly, the Sheriff will recommend to the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday the 7th that our restrictions be lifted as well. We will post any such change here and the county's public information officer will do likewise through other channels.
11:41 AM - Jul 17		The County Commissioners have pulled back from a complete fire ban which we have had since early on during the High Park Fire and have gone back to fire restrictions. I have cut and pasted our formal press release on this matter below. Rocky Mountain National Park and the U.S. Forest Service as well as the Town of Estes Park have also retreated from an all out ban to restrictions. Just a reminder (which I know is hardly needed by anyone whose been paying attention) - we are still suffering from below normal precipitation for the year and our larger fuels in the forest are still very dry in many parts of the county. Please lets all be careful with fire so we can get through this summer and autumn without additional tragedies. Larimer County, Colorado – The Board of Larimer County Commissioners today rescinded the ban on ‘Contained’ fires and continued the restrictions on Open Fires and the Use of Fireworks beginning Tuesday July 17, 2012 for the unincorporated areas of Larimer County. The restrictions mean that the public can now have fires in areas with permanent fire structures such as campgrounds. Today’s restrictions were based on a recommendation from Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith. Contained open fires are not restricted at this time. Because ‘contained open fires’ are not restricted, these are ‘restrictions’, not a ‘ban.’ · Today’s restrictions mean that no open fires are allowed, no open camp or cooking fires, only “contained’ open fires such as those in camp stoves and grills using gas or pressurized liquid or those in permanently constructed, stationary, metal or masonry fireplaces such as those fireplaces located in campgrounds and masonry or metal fire pits. - It is okay to operate combustion engines with spark arresting devices, properly installed and in working order. - Citizens who live in unincorporated areas of Larimer County can operate a charcoal grill on a non-combustible surface at least ten feet in diameter at their private residence. - No use of fireworks is allowed under these restrictions. - No agricultural burning is allowed under these restrictions. - No open campfires are allowed under these restrictions. The Sheriff can exempt items from these restrictions based on his pre-approval and inspection. Any person who knowingly violates the restrictions commits a class 2 petty offense and can be fined. The County’s complete ‘fire ordinance’ is available at: http://www.larimer.org/policies/. Individual resolutions such as was adopted today spell out which items from the ordinance are allowed and not-allowed.
1:17 PM - Jun 20		Here is the language of the Resolution on open fires in Larimer County referred to in the last post: The Board of Larimer County Commissioners today added additional fire restrictions on Open Fires, Contained Open Fires and the Sale and Use of Fireworks and Public Fireworks Displays for the unincorporated areas of Larimer County through September 30, 2012. The restrictions were originally adopted on April 10 and extended on May 15^thand June 4, 2012. Today’s decision was based on a recommendation from Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith and Fire Chiefs from area fire agencies. The Sheriff’s Office along with the Board of County Commissioners will continue to closely monitor potential fire danger. The resolution specifies: · Prohibition of open fires (see definition below) in the unincorporated territory of Larimer County effective 12:00 am, June 19, 2012 through 11:59 pm September 30, 2012 1. Open fires shall mean: any open burning, including camp and cooking fires; or welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame. Open fires shall not include: Fires in camp stoves or grills, fueled by bottled gas or pressurized liquid, and specifically designed for cooking or heating purposes. Fires in commercially operated wood and/or charcoal fired grills designed for cooking. Smoking within 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 material. Smoking within an enclosed vehicle shall mean that the cigarette, cigar or other smoking instrument is at all times contained within the vehicle and is not allowed to leave the vehicle or protrude or be held outside the vehicle, including the window of the vehicle. Butts and stubs must be disposed of within a trash receptacle or within the vehicle. · Prohibition of contained open fires (see definition below) in the unincorporated territory of Larimer County shall be imposed effective 12:00 am, June 19, 2012 through 11:59 pm September 30, 2012. 1. Contained open fires shall mean: fires in permanently constructed stationary masonry or metal fireplaces specifically designed for the purpose of combustion; or operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting devise properly installed, maintained and in effective working order meeting either Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Standard 5100-1a or appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practice J335(b) and J350(a). Contained open fires shall not include fireplaces or wood stoves located inside permanent structures. · Prohibition on the sale or use of fireworks (definitions below) and public fireworks displays (see definition below) in the unincorporated territory of Larimer County shall be imposed effective 12:00 am, June 19, 2012 through 11:59 pm September 30, 2012. 1. Fireworks shall mean: any article, device, or substance prepared for the primary purpose of producing a visual or auditory sensation by combustion, explosion, deflagration, or detonation. 2. Fireworks does not include: a. Toy caps which do not contain more than twenty-five hundredths of a grain of explosive compound per cap; b. Highway flares, railroad fuses, ship distress signals, smoke candles, and other emergency signal devices; 3. Public fireworks displays shall mean: - any display of fireworks conducted by a qualified pyrotechnic operator in compliance with article 78, section 7802 - fireworks - of the uniform fire code, as amended, and conducted only after the approval by the local fire authority, and compliance with any conditions imposed by the local fire authority. The Sheriff can exempt items from these restrictions based on his pre-approval and inspection.
11:18 AM - Jun 20		There has been a change in the restrictions on open fires in Larimer County. We will supply the full language of the Resolution shortly but for now, be advised that there is now no open fire of any kind allowed in unincorporated Larimer County. Residents of the towns of the county will need to check with your town administrators. On open fire means no charcoal burners of any kind as well as no open fire. Campstoves with switches or dials to turn off and on like a traditional camp stove will still be allowed; those without, such as alcohol burning stoves are illegal until further notice. Given the situation and conditions, this ban will likely last for some time into the future. Changes will be announced here and in the media as well as at the Couty Emergency Information line at 498-5500.
1:06 PM - Jun 12		The Board of Larimer County Commissioners today approved a ban on the sale and use of fireworks and public fireworks displays for unincorporated western Larimer County (north to south), effective June 16, 2012 when former restrictions retire, through September 30, 2012. Open Fires are already restricted through September 30, 2012. Specifically the line for the fireworks ban is: In the unincorporated area of Larimer County West of County Road (CR) 19 (where CR19 does not exist then west of CRs 21, 23) North of CR 60 (where CR 60 does not exist then north of CR58) to the County Line South to the County Line See the full press release.

Information provided by the Emergency Management Office