Larimer County Fire Restrictions
On recommendation by the Larimer County Sheriff, the Board of Larimer County Commissioners today voted 3-0 to adopt fire restrictions in unincorporated Larimer County since the danger of wildfire, forest and grass fires are great due to above-normal temperatures, lightning strikes, and windy, dry conditions. In addition, Rocky Mountain National Park has issued a fire ban and restriction!
As of 4:13 pm, July 31, restrictions on open fires for the unincorporated portions of Larimer County go into effect. These restrictions stay in effect until 8:00 a.m., August 31, 2024. Also in effect are restrictions on the use of fireworks, combustible devices, public firework displays and incendiary devices. This is NOT a fire ban.
Fire Alert Sign
Restricted today:
• Open fires, contained open fires, including camp or cooking fires
• Smoking in the open is not allowed, including on trails, parks and open spaces.
• Fireworks or firework displays.
• Incendiary devices including sky lanterns, exploding ammunition, exploding targets, and tracer
ammunition.
• Welding
Allowed:
• Fireplaces or wood stoves located inside a residence
• Gas fueled fires, including grills and camping stoves
Restrictions – 2
Legal Definitions:
1. Combustible Devices shall mean any object which is flammable, explodes or is designed to or may
cause fire. This includes sky lanterns, exploding ammunition, exploding targets, and tracer ammunition.
2. Open Fires shall include both contained open fires, uncontained open fires and gas or liquid fueled
fires.
a. “Contained Open Fires” shall mean open fire that is in a permanently constructed stationary
masonry or metal fireplaces specifically designed for the purpose of combustion. Contained
Open Fires shall not include fireplaces or wood stoves located inside a permanent structure,
such as a residential dwelling or commercial business.
b. “Uncontained Open Fires” shall mean any fire (including but not limited to: campfire,
fireplace, recreational fire, bonfire, firepit, etc…), coal, wood or pellet stove, fireplace, any type
of charcoal, wood, or pellet fueled cooking, uncontained fire of any type in an undeveloped area
including camp and cooking fires, welding, or operating acetylene or other torches with open
flames.
c. “Gas or Liquid Fueled Fires” shall mean fires fueled by bottled gas or pressurized liquid, which
shall include but is not limited to: portable heaters, cooking stoves, heating stoves,
hiking/camping stoves, grills, firepits, fireplaces, etc….)
3. Fireworks shall mean any composition or device designed to produce a visible or audible effect by
combustion, deflagration, or detonation, and that meets the definition of permissible fireworks defined
in C.R.S. 24-33.5-2001(11).
a. Fireworks does not include:
i. Toy caps, party poppers, and items similar to toy caps and party poppers that do not
contain more than sixteen milligrams of pyrotechnic composition per item and snappers
that do not contain more than one milligram of explosive composition per item;
ii. Highway flares, railroad fuses, ship distress signals, smoke candles, and other
emergency signal devices;
iii. Educational rockets and toy propellant device type engines used in such rockets
when such rockets are of nonmetallic construction and utilize replaceable engines or
model cartridges containing less than
two ounces of propellant and when such engines or model cartridges are designed to be
ignited by electrical means;
iv. Fireworks that are used in testing or research by a licensed explosives laboratory.
4. Public fireworks displays shall mean any display of fireworks conducted by a qualified pyrotechnic
operator in compliance with the International Fire Code, as amended, and conducted only after the
approval by the local fire authority, and incompliance with any conditions imposed by the local fire
authority.
Any person who knowingly violates the restrictions can be fined. The Ordinance for the Regulation of
Open Burning in Unincorporated Larimer County can be found by clicking here:
https://www.larimer.gov/sites/default/files/ordinance_concerning_the_restriction_of_open_fires_
_2022_final_04262022.pdf
Rocky Mountain National Park Fire Bans & Restrictions
Due to extreme fire danger, the extended weather forecast, and current fire activity in the State of Colorado, a ban is now in effect on all fires within Rocky Mountain National Park. This ban is effective beginning today, Thursday, August 1, and will remain in effect until further notice.
When fires bans are in effect, this means that all campfires, including charcoal briquette fires, are not permitted anywhere within Rocky Mountain National Park. However, petroleum-fueled stoves and grills may still be used in developed campgrounds, picnic areas and in designated backcountry campsites. Stoves must be able to be turned on and off.
Smoking is also prohibited inside the park, except within an enclosed vehicle, or stopped within a developed paved area devoid of vegetation for at least three feet. Visitors are reminded to properly extinguish all lighted smoking materials and dispose of properly. Fireworks are always prohibited within Rocky Mountain National Park.
Rocky Mountain National Park always has Stage 1 fire restrictions in place, where campfires are prohibited in the park, except within designated campfire rings in picnic areas and front-country campgrounds. The last time a total fire ban (Stage 2 fire restrictions) was in place in the park was in August of 2020.
For more information on Rocky Mountain National Park, visit our website at www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206.