Pitkin County Sheriff Michael Bugilone, with the support of all Pitkin County Fire Chiefs, is placing Pitkin County under Stage 1 fire restrictions effective 12:01 a.m. on Friday, June 27. The fire restrictions are in effect until further notice and cover all State, public, private, incorporated and unincorporated lands within Pitkin County. Land management officials from the US Forest Service - White River National Forest and Bureau of Land Management are implementing their own similar restrictions. “The data and science behind wildfires has shown that Pitkin County should be in these fire restrictions,”said Michael Bugilone, Pitkin County Sheriff. We want everyone tol have fun while traveling, recreating, working and living in Pitkin County, but please abide by the fire restrictions to keep our community safe.” “The fire chiefs of Pitkin County ask for the public's help in preventing an uncontrollable wildfire. We have entered into dangerous fire conditions that we have not experienced since 2018 and 2020.” said Scott Thompson Roaring Fork Fire Rescue Fire Chief. All residents and visitors who violate these fire restrictions will face penalties to include fines between $500 and $1000 and possible jail time.
What Stage 1 fire restrictions mean in Pitkin County:
- 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 pan or rock campfire rings will not be acceptable. A "Developed Area" is 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 a land owner. This includes residential and business areas, improved recreational areas, parks and other common areas.
- No smoking except within a designated area, enclosed vehicle or building, a developed area or in an area free of all flammable material.
- No use of fireworks or explosive materials, including “exploding” targets or bullets and tracer rounds.
- Exercise common sense and industry safety practice when welding or operating an acetylene or other similar torch with open flame, always clear a safe area of vegetation and combustibles.
- Operating or using an internal or external combustion engine without an approved spark-arresting device properly installed, maintained, and in effective working order meeting either the USDA Forest Service Standards or appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practices.
The restrictions stated above exclude the following:
- Persons with a valid written permit from the Pitkin County Sheriff, or the fire district within which the fire is to occur specifically authorizing the prohibited act.
- Any Federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
- Any fires contained within a liquid fuel or gas fuel stove, fireplaces within buildings, charcoal grill fires at private residences, and fires located within permanent fire pits or fire grates to the extent those pits or grates are located in developed picnic grounds, campgrounds or recreational sites.
- Burning of irrigation ditches located within and completely surrounded by irrigated farmlands, where such burning is necessary for crop survival, and a specific written permit has been granted for such burning, in advance, by the fire district having jurisdiction.
- Campfires or bonfires which are required in religious ceremonies, for which a Federal agency, the Fire District and the County Sheriff has granted a valid written permit in advance.
Knowingly or recklessly burning during the restriction period is illegal and legal actions will be taken against individuals in violation under CRS 30-15-410 and Pitkin County Resolution 96.
If you have any questions please contact your local fire district or district Ranger office:
- Aspen Fire Protection District -- 970-925-5532
- Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District -- 970-963-2491
- Roaring Fork Fire Rescue Authority - 970-340-7040
- Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office -- 970-920-5300
- White River National Forest -- 970-963-2255
