Press Release
Beginning June 14, 2022 at 8:00 PM Custer County will elevate the fire restrictions to Stage 1. After discussions with the acting Wet Mountain Fire Protection District Chief, Sheriff Hill has determined with the lack of any significant precipitation combined with the recent winds drying fire fuels there is a significant risk of a wildland fire event in Custer County.
Please read the below restrictions for prohibited and authorized activities for Stage 1. You are encouraged to use extreme caution if you are following the authorized burning activities.
STAGE I RESTRICTIONS: Prohibit the following activities:
• Open burning, building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, or campfire, charcoal grills, pellet grills, and wood or coal burning stoves or fireplaces in undeveloped areas. Areas cleared of all flammable materials, and those within permanently constructed fire grates or developed campgrounds and picnic grounds are excepted as noted in Section 9 (Unlawful Acts).
• Campfires and gas fire pits contained in constructed permanent fire pits or fire grates within a developed recreation area shall be allowed.
• Grills using propane, pellets, and other bottled fuels shall be allowed, but only in areas free of flammable vegetation and other flammable materials, and such fires must be used and maintained in such a manner that no fire danger is presented to the surrounding area.
• All open fires allowed by subparagraphs (B) and (C) above must be attended at all times, and an adequate water supply and/or a fire extinguisher shall be on site at all times while such an open fire is burning.
• All burning of trash, refuse or debris shall be temporarily suspended.
• Smoking shall be temporarily suspended except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or outdoor smoking area that is hard-surfaced or barren or otherwise cleared of all flammable vegetation or material. Discarding smoking materials in a receptacle not designed for disposal of smoking materials, discarding smoking materials from a moving or stationary motor vehicle, and discarding smoking materials in any other outdoor location is expressly prohibited at all times.
• The use of explosive materials including fireworks, solid fuel rockets, blasting caps, or any other incendiary device which may result in the ignition of flammable materials shall be temporarily suspended.
• Outdoor welding, grinding, or use of any type of torch in any area which presents the possibility of igniting vegetation or other combustible material shall be temporarily suspended unless there is an adequate water supply and/or fire extinguisher on site.
• Operating any outdoor equipment or machinery with an internal combustion engine in an undeveloped area shall be temporarily suspended unless said equipment or machinery is equipped with a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained, and in good working order.
• The sale, possession, and use of fireworks, including permissible fireworks as defined in C.R.S. §30-15-401(l)(n.7).