By order of Sheriff Tony Spurlock, Stage 1 fire restrictions are now in place. Ordinance No. O-012-004 restricts open fires, open burning and the use of fireworks in the unincorporated areas of Douglas County.
General Guidance on Stage 1 Restrictions follows below:
Prohibited Activities:
- Open burning of any kind.
- Use of Fireworks
Allowable Activities:
- Fires within liquid-fueled or gas-fueled stoves, fireplaces within buildings, charcoal grill fires within developed residential or commercial areas, and fires within wood burning stoves within buildings only.
- Professional fireworks displays that are permitted according to section 12-28-103 of the C.R.S.
- Fire suppression or fire department training fires.
- Small recreational fires at developed picnic or campground sites contained in fixed permanent metal/steel fire pits (rock fire rings are considered temporary and not permanent) with flame lengths not in excess of four feet; or the residential use of charcoal grills, tiki torches, fires in chimineas, or other portable fireplaces or patio fire pits, so long as said fires are supervised by a responsible person at least 18 years of age.
Violation of these fire restrictions is a Class-2 Petty Offense, punishable by up to a $1000.00 fine and a $10.00 surcharge.
Additional information on fire restrictions stages can be located at the Douglas County Emergency Management website:
http://www.dcsheriff.net/emergencymanagement/fire-restrictions/