Stage I Fire Restrictions (from Chaffee County Ordinance Number 2006-02)

Prohibits building, maintaining, or attending any “open fire” (see definition below) within Chaffee County.  The ordinance applies “throughout the unincorporated* areas of Chaffee County, including public, private, state, and applicable federal lands.**”

Excluded from a Stage I fire ban (therefore still allowed during this stage) are:

• Campfires within a permanent constructed ring or firegrate (three feet in diameter maximum); in a developed public campground, public picnic ground, commercial campground, or on private property.
• 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.

A Stage I ban is the least restrictive.  Citizens are prohibited from burning trash, leaf piles, and the like but may still enjoy most recreational fires.

Further discussion

*This ban applies to the unincorporated areas of the county.  However, the City of Salida does not allow open burning within the city unless it is a permitted agricultural burn or a campfire.  Salida residents should direct their questions to the Salida Fire Department at 539-2212.  Buena Vista authorities have agreed that they will comply with fire restrictions declared by County authorities, so essentially any ban declared by the county sheriff is consistent throughout the county.

**A Federal public lands Stage I fire ban is even more restrictive than ours and includes a prohibition on smoking (cigarets, cigars, etc).  Callers intending to use a BLM or Forest Service campground should check with those authorities on specific prohibitions.

Federal land fire managers may declare their own status, but generally all of our jurisdictions try to be consistent throughout the county, and we confer before declaring any restrictions.

US Forest Service – 719-539-3591
BLM – 719-269-8500
Arkansas Headwaters Parks and Recreation – 719-539-7289
Colorado State Forest Service – 719-539-2579

Definition of Open Fire:  Any outdoor fire or burn, including but not limited to, campfires, warming fires, charcoal fires, any type of charcoal-fueled broilers or bar-b-que grills, fires in wood-burning stoves, and the prescribed burning of trash and debris, and of agricultural lands (irrigation ditches, etc.).

But again, under a Stage I ban, most of these are allowed.  One cannot burn trash or leaves, but may have a campfire and use their charcoal grill.