Larimer County Adopts Fire Restrictions on Open Fires

Larimer County, Colorado – The Board of Larimer County Commissioners today adopted fire restrictions on Open Fires and Fireworks beginning immediately and continuing through May 5, 2011.  Today’s restrictions are based on a recommendation from Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith who says it is unusual to put these restrictions in place this early in the year,  “We are waiting for moisture and for spring greening to occur. Meanwhile we will continue to monitor moisture content and make new recommendations when appropriate.”

• Open fires and fireworks in the unincorporated areas of Larimer County. Contained open fires are not restricted at this time. Because ‘contained open fires’ are okay, this is not a ban, but restrictions.

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.

-        Smoking in the open is not allowed under these restrictions.

-       Contained open fires rules also call for operating combustion engines with spark arresting devices, properly installed and in working order.

-       An exception to the Open Fires rules is that 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 fireworks or fireworks sales are allowed under these restrictions.

-       No agricultural burning is allowed under these restrictions.

-       No open campfires are allowed under these restrictions.

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/ ^[1].