Stage two fire restrictions have been instituted for all unincorporated private, state and BLM lands within Garfield County and throughout White River National Forest.
That means:
· No fires/campfires/stove fires, this includes wood or charcoal burning stoves and fireplaces in mountain cabins.
· No charcoal grills and no wood or coal fires for cooking purposes. This applies to personal and park charcoal grills or grates. Only natural gas or propane grills with a shut off valve shall be permitted. Allowed outdoor cooking fires shall be attended at all times until the fire is extinguished and cold.
· No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building.
· No operating of any combustion engine, including chainsaws, without an approved spark arrester (properly installed), a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher, and a round-point shovel readily available for use.
· No welding, spark emitting cutting, or operating acetylene or other torch with an open flame except for industrial use and then only with a Fire Department permit. This must be in a cleared area of at least 10 feet in diameter and there must be a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher, in possession, which is readily available in the immediate area of operations.
· No use of any explosive. All explosives are prohibited, including: blasting caps, exploding targets, bullets, tracer rounds, model rockets, etc. (Modafinil)
· No fireworks. All fireworks are prohibited, including: toy caps, sparklers, snakes, smoke bombs, fountains, etc.
Those found responsible for starting wildfires will face restitution costs of suppressing the fire.
The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank everyone in Garfield County for their cooperation in doing their part to keep us all safe.
For more information about fire restrictions in these areas, log on to the Garfield County Sheriff’s Website or the Garfield County Web Site at:
Garfield County has also taken extra steps to prohibit fireworks, flares or other incendiary devices, which are always prohibited on federal lands.
“Fire danger continues to increase with this hot and dry weather,” said Gloria Tibbetts, Acting Field Manager for the Colorado River Valley Field Office. “In these conditions fires can start easily from a variety of sources. Please avoid parking or driving in tall dry grass, which can ignite from engine heat. It only takes one spark to start a wildfire – equipment should have working spark arresters and trailers should be inspected to ensure chains are not dragging.”