CHAFFEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Salida, Colorado
PRESS RELEASE
May 29, 2018
Due to dry conditions that are becoming prevalent throughout Chaffee County, the continued dry weather predicted for our region and diminishing fire resources Sheriff John Spezze has ordered that Chaffee County will enter STAGE 1 Fire Restrictions effective Wednesday, May 30, 2018.
Stage 1 fire restrictions prohibit building, maintaining or attending any open fire.
Excluded from Stage 1 fire restrictions, therefore still allowed in this stage are:
*Campfires within a permanent constructed ring or fire grate, 3 feet in diameter maximum, in a developed public campground, public picnic ground, commercial campground, or on private property. An example of a permanently constructed ring would be a cement ring that is not movable. Rocks lining a fire pit are not considered permanent and therefore in violation.
*LP gas or liquid fueled stoves that allow the operator to turn the appliance on or off.
*Fireplaces within enclosed buildings equipped with fire screens on the flue.
*Charcoal grill fires at private residences.
This fire ban also includes the burning of debris piles, slash piles, ditches and agricultural lands.
This fire ban applies to all unincorporated areas within Chaffee County, including public lands, private lands and state lands.
Our federal partners, the U.S. Forest Service and the BLM are already in Stage 1 Fire Restrictions which encompass all federal lands within the Salida Ranger District.
The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office will be strictly enforcing this fire restriction in the interest of public safety for both our county residents and visitors as well.
For more information please contact Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze at 719-539-2596.