Fire Restrictions adopted for White River National Forest, Summit and Garfield

Summit Voice.comPointing to the acute danger of large and potentially deadly wildfires in the high country and on the West Slope of Colorado, The White River National Forest, as Summit and Garfield counties this week adopted fire restrictions.

White River National Forest, Summit and Garfield counties join other jurisdictions in banning open fires; controlled campfires in developed recreation areas still OK.

By most measures, the current fire danger is rated as high to very high, with dry and windy conditions forecast to persist on and off for the foreseeable future.

“We don’t take fire restrictions lightly,” said Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue Chief Dave Parmley, explaining that conditions require restrictions to prevent wildfires from occurring “due to unawareness of conditions or an act of carelessness.” It might also be worth it for the county to provide information to their citizens about increased fire safety such as they can find if they click for more here, as an example.

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions prohibit open fires, the use of fireworks and the sale of fireworks within Summit County, with the following exceptions:

  1. Fires contained within liquid-fueled, gas-fueled or charcoal-fueled stoves or grills;
  2. Fires contained within self contained outdoor fire bowls, chimneys or chimineas with screen covers on private property (if placed on a concrete or asphalt surface);
  3. Charcoal-fueled fires within permanent fire pits on privately owned property if: a)such contained charcoal fire is under constant supervision; b)adequate fire suppression apparatus is available at the location of the contained charcoal fire; c)notice of the contained charcoal fire has been provided to the local fire district; and d)notice of the contained charcoal fire has been provided to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office;
  4. Pre-approved public fireworks displays;
  1. Fires in the designated areas of the following improved campgrounds: Pine Cove Campground, Peak One Campground, Heaton Bay Campground, Prospector Campground, Windy Point Campground, Lowry Campground, Blue River Campground, Prairie Point Campground, McDonald Flats Campground, Cataract Campground, Davis Springs Campground, Willows Campground, Elliot Creek Campground, North Cow Creek Campground, South Cow Creek Campground.

“The time is right,” said Red, White and Blue Fire District Chief Lori Miller. “We support these restrictions one…CLICK HERE TO READ MORE.

~Summit County Citizens Voice