Jefferson, Park & Clear Creek County Fire Ban Information & More...

Temporary Stage 2 Fire Ban Implemented in Jefferson County

Jefferson County, CO. – Effective at noon on July 9, 2020, Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Shrader will enact a Stage 2 Fire Ban for Jefferson County. This temporary Stage 2 Fire Ban supersedes all previous fire restrictions and bans.

THIS TEMPORARY STAGE 2 FIRE BAN APPLIES TO ALL LANDS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

This ban is being enacted due to the continuing high fire danger condition within Jefferson County.

Pursuant to the Annual Operating Plan regarding the implementation of fire restrictions and fire bans, and due to the continuing high fire danger condition within Jefferson County, the following activities are prohibited pursuant to a Stage 2 fire ban: 

• Building, maintaining, attending or using any fire.
• Recreational fires, including recreational campfires.
• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area of at least six feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all combustible material. (2015 IFC 310.8)
• Open burning including “bon fires” that require a permit from the fire authority having jurisdiction. (2015 IFC 105.6.32)
• The USE of ALL fireworks, as defined below.
• Shooting tracer rounds or explosive type targets.
• Chain saws shall only be operated with a USDA or SAE approved spark arresting device properly installed and in proper working order, and having an extinguishing source, water, pressurized water extinguisher, or a proper chemical pressurized extinguisher large enough to handle nearby hazards and possessing at least one large size pointed shovel with an overall length of at least thirty-six inches. All must be readily available for quick use.
• Welding and cutting torch appliances, as described below in the definition section, shall only be operated within an area that is barren or cleared of all combustible material at least 30 feet in all directions from the operating equipment. (2015 IFC 308.1.6) This operation may only be done during a declared “Fire Ban” upon receiving a permit from the Fire Authority having jurisdiction over the operating location. (2015 IFC 105.6.31)
• Use of an explosive initiation system requiring a burning fuse line.

 Exemptions approved under this temporary Stage 2 Fire Ban: 

• Use of liquid or gas fueled appliances.
• Approved wood pellet grills.
• Permitted fires by persons with a permit specifically authorizing the prohibited act such as professional fireworks displays. Contact must be made with the permitting authority to verify the status of permits issued prior to the establishment of burn restrictions.
• Fire Department/District training fires.
• Burning of explosive wastes by manufacturers of explosives in areas zoned for industrial use, when the burning is supervised by the fire protection district.
• Open fires or open burning by any federal, state, or local officer in the performance of official fire suppression functions.
• Individuals operating under any of the above exemptions shall take adequate measures to prevent uncontrolled fires. Possible measures include, but are not limited to:
• Containers of adequate water or dry soil nearby.
• Shovels, fire extinguishers, or other extinguishing agents nearby.
• Coordination with the local fire department or district to be on scene or standby during an activity.

Definitions:

FIREWORKS: As defined in section 12-28-101(3) C.R.S, and shall specifically include “permissible fireworks” as defined in section 12-28-101(8) C.R.S.

INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE (IFC): Latest adopted Fire Code within Jefferson County; currently the 2015 edition.

LIQUID OR GAS FUELED APPLIANCES: Appliances such as fire pits, grills, camp stoves, and Tiki torches that burn liquid or gaseous fuels and can be shut off. This does not include any device that burns solid fuels such as wood or charcoal and which must be extinguished.

OPEN FIRE AND OPEN BURNING: Any outdoor fire larger than a recreational fire and not contained within a portable outdoor fireplace. This includes but is not limited to campfires, bonfires, warming fires, the lighting of any fused explosives, permissible fireworks, the use of model rockets, “sky lanterns”, and the burning of fence lines or rows, grass lands, fields, farm lands, ditches, range lands, and wild lands. Permits from the fire district are required for open fires.

PORTABLE OUTDOOR FIREPLACE: A commercially purchased portable, outdoor, solid-fuel-burning fireplace that may be constructed of steel, concrete, clay, or other non-combustible material. A portable outdoor fireplace may be open in design, or may be equipped with a small hearth opening and a short chimney or chimney opening at the top. These devices must be operated according to the manufacturers’ instructions with all covers, screens, spark arresters, and grates in place. Portable outdoor fireplaces shall not be operated within 30 feet of a structure or combustible material.

RECREATIONAL FIRE: An outdoor fire burning material other than rubbish or debris where the fuel being burned is not contained in a portable outdoor fireplace or barbeque grill and has a total fuel area of 3 feet or less in diameter and 2 feet or less in height for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth, or similar purposes. This includes fires in barrels and drums; fixed, permanent outdoor fireplaces; and barbeque pit fires.

UNDEVELOPED AREAS: Lands that are not groomed, manicured, or watered, where grasses, brush and trees have been allowed to grow in a natural environment. This includes green belts that are not landscaped or manicured, open space lands, non-manicured park lands, and other areas where the fire hazard presented by the vegetation is determined to be an undue wildland fire hazard.

WELDING AND CUTTING TORCH APPLIANCES: Gas cylinder mixtures, electric and/or portable powered welders, and cutting appliances which produce heat, flame, sparks, molten metal slag, etc.

Pursuant to County Policy Part 3, Chapter 6, Section 2, Authorizing the Declaration of Open Fire Bans, violations of these prohibitions, upon conviction, is punishable by a fine of not more than $600.00. Such act(s) violate section(s) 102.8 and/or 308.2 of the International Fire Code.

This temporary fire ban becomes effective at 12:00 P.M. on July 9, 2020 and shall remain in effect until superseded or repealed.

County-Wide Burn Ban In Effect For Park County

The following acts are PROHIBITED on ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY until further notice:

1. Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire, including charcoal, except in a constructed, permanent metal fire ring within a developed recreation site that requires payment and reservations.
2. Smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
3. Operating motorized vehicles off designated roads or trails.
4. Blasting, welding or other activities, which generate flame or flammable material.
5. Fireworks and model rocketry.
6. Target shooting and recreational shooting is prohibited, including the Forestry areas. The only exception to this will be the Como shooting range.  Posted Range Rules Must Be Followed.  
7. Operating a chain saw without a 10lb ABC or 2 ½ gallon pressurized or equivalent fire extinguisher, and large size pointed shovel readily available for quick use.  

Exceptions:

1. Persons with a written exemption from their District Fire Chief that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
2. Persons using a fire solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels.
3. Any Federal, State or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
4. Approved fully contained outdoor wood burning furnace/boiler.
5. For commercial operations authorized under contract or permit, internal and external combustion engines may be operated as approved by the Forest Service within designated areas.
6. Licensed hunters that are actively pursuing game.

Please abide by the County Ordinance 19-01.  Citations for violations will start at $500 and increase to $1000.

Park County Fire Districts

Clear Creek County Fire Restrictions

TEMPORARY STAGE 2 FIRE RESTRICTIONS

These Temporary Fire Restrictions, dated and executed below, supersede all previous Fire Restrictions and Fire Bans.

THESE TEMPORARY FIRE RESTRICTIONS APPLY TO ALL LANDS IN UNINCORPORATED CLEAR CREEK COUNTY

FIRE RESTRICTIONS

Pursuant to the Annual Operating Plan regarding the implementation of Fire Restrictions and Fire Bans; and due to the continuing high fire danger conditions within Clear Creek County, the following activities are prohibited pursuant to Stage 2 Restrictions:

1. Building, maintaining, attending or using any Open Fire as defined in Ordinance No. 8.

“Open Fire” is defined in Clear Creek County Ordinance No. 8 as: “Any fire outdoors for any purpose, including, but not limited to, bonfires, campfires, charcoal or wood barbeques; lighting off fireworks of any kind, trash or rubbish burning, smoking and lawn, weed, ditch or crop burning”; but excludes “propane or natural gas barbeque or liquid fuel stove if it is attended at all times and is in a fully enclosed, covered barbeque grill or is contained within a liquid fuel stove.”

2. Sale, possessing, discharging or using any type of fireworks or other pyrotechnic device, including sparklers.

3. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or while stopped in an area of at least six feet diameter that is barren or cleared of all combustible material.

4. Possessing or using a motor vehicle off roads, EXCEPT when parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of the roadway or driveway serving private property; and EXCEPT for parking overnight in Forest Service developed campgrounds and trailheads; no off road (cross-country travel) of any kind.

5. All other outdoor spark- or flame-producing activities.

6. Shooting (discharging of firearms of any kind).

7. Operating a chain saw without having (a) a USDA or SAE approved spark arresting device properly installed and in proper working order, (b) an extinguishing source, water, pressurized water extinguisher, or a proper chemical pressurized extinguisher, large enough to handle nearby hazards, and (c) at least one large-size, pointed shovel with an overall length of at least thirty-six inches, readily available for quick use.

8. Operating welding and cutting torch appliances, except within an area that is barren or cleared of all combustible material at least 30 feet in all directions from the operating equipment.

WELDING AND CUTTING TORCH APPLIANCES: Gas cylinder mixtures, electric and/or portable powered welders and cutting appliances which produce heat, flame, sparks, molten metal slag, etc.

NOTE: Burn permits issued and not executed prior to the effective date of these

Temporary Fire Restrictions shall not be authorized unless approved by the issuing agency on the day of execution.

EXEMPTIONS APPROVED UNDER THESE TEMPORARY FIRE RESTRICTIONS

Ø Persons with a valid written permit from the Sheriff or appropriate Fire Authority which specifically authorizes the prohibited act.

Ø Any Federal, State, or local Law Enforcement or Fire Officer acting in the performance of an official duty.

Ø Charcoal grill fires at private residences.

Ø Open fires required in religious ceremonies and for which a valid written permit has been granted in advance by the local Fire Department or District.

Individuals operating under any of the above exemptions shall take adequate measures to prevent uncontrolled fires. Measures include, but are not limited to:

1. Containers of adequate water or dry soil nearby; and/or

2. Shovels, fire extinguishers, or other extinguishing agents nearby and/or

3. Coordination with the local Fire Department or District to be on scene or standby during an activity.

ENFORCEMENT

Violators may be charged with 4th degree Arson and/or Reckless Endangerment, or as provided in Clear Creek County Ordinance No. 8.

These Revised Fire Restrictions will become effective at 6:00 A.M. on Friday, July 10, 2020, and shall remain in effect until superseded or repealed.

Executed this 9th day of July, 2020, at 2:00 P.M.

CLEAR CREEK COUNTY SHERIFF

Community Wildfire Protection Plan

The CWPP was completely updated in 2020 for EFR and the Evergreen Community. To read the complete document it can be viewed at CWPP 2020 Additional information about Wildfire visit: https://www.efrwildlandfire.info/

Community Connect

Sign up for Community Connect today. Community Connect is a free, secure tool that allows residents to share critical information that can assist Evergreen Fire Rescue during emergency response. https://www.communityconnect.io/info/co-evergreen

Sign Up for CODE RED 

Be notified by your local emergency response team in the event of emergency situations or critical community alerts. Examples include: evacuation notices, bio-terrorism alerts, boil water notices, and missing child reports. https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/655AC5D55998

Smoky Skies & Low Air Quality

Hot temperatures, smoky skies, high fire danger, and poor air quality will remain in place today.  High temperatures will be at or near record levels. Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated. Avoid prolonged outdoor exposure if you are prone to respiratory problems. 

~Evergreen Fire Rescue

~Park County Fire Districts

~Clear Creek Sheriff's Department