Safe Burning Requirements:
Open fires and open burning within the city limits must conform to the following regulations:
A safety area of 10 feet from the open fire shall be free of flammable vegetation or mowed to a very low height.
The open fire shall be no less than 15 feet from other combustion sources, including but not limited to residences, barns, sheds, wooden fences, and similar structures.
All fireplaces and pits shall be fitted with an appropriately sized and fitted Spark/Ember Arrestor.
The total fuel area may not be greater than 3 feet in diameter and shall have a flame height of less than 2 feet.
A means of extinguishing the fire shall be available and ready to deploy. These means shall include at a minimum:
a portable fire extinguisher at least a 51b type A rating; or
a water hose with sprayer attachment; or
a 5-gallon bucket of water and shovel.
All open fires shall be attended by a person at least 18 years of age who has a phone immediately available to call 911 and who is capable of using the means of extinguishing the fire.
No refuse or yard debris may be burned.
Stage 1 FIRE Restrictions:
Open Burning Ban, defined as the prohibited use of any outside fire, including campfires and warming fires.
This current ban excludes fires in permanently constructed fire rings within the city’s RV and Camping Parks; and charcoal grills and smokers, and wood burning fireplaces, (chiminia) or fire pits with proper fitting screen covers and with a minimum of 15’ separation from structures or other combustible material at private residences. None of these exclusions permit a total fuel area greater than 3 feet in diameter, and all must have a flame height of less than 2 feet.
Outdoor Smoking Ban, defined as the prohibited use of any tobacco product or similar material in cigarettes, cigars, or pipes outdoors. This excludes smoking in enclosed buildings or structures, and along Manitou Avenue. Discarding of a lighted cigarette, cigar or pipe tobacco product is strictly prohibited.
These restrictions do not apply to gas-fueled grills used out-of-doors, or to fires within liquid-fueled or gas-fueled stoves. Additionally, compliant fireplaces and wood-burning stoves within private residences are not included.
Stage 2 Fire restrictions:
Open Burning Ban, defined as the prohibited use of any outside fire. This includes all campfires and warming fires, all solid fuel burning fireplaces (e.g. fire pits, fire tables, and chimineas) and cooking appliances (e.g. charcoal BBQ grills, pellet smokers and BBQ grills).
This ban excludes Liquid Propane (LP) fueled or gas fueled open flame cooking devices, (e.g. LP BBQ grills or camping stoves) with a 10’ separation from combustible materials, (clearance not applicable to single-family homes). Additionally, this ban does not apply to compliant fireplaces and wood-burning stoves within private residences.
Outdoor Smoking Ban, defined as the prohibited use of any tobacco product or similar material in cigarettes, cigars, or pipes outdoors. This excludes smoking in enclosed buildings or structures, and along Manitou Avenue. Discarding of a lighted cigarette, cigar or pipe tobacco product is strictly prohibited.
Prohibited Sale and Use of Fireworks and explosives, defined as sale of any and all types of fireworks, and use of any explosives not limited to fireworks, fuses or blasting caps and rockets.
Dangerous Equipment Use, defined as the use or operation of any equipment outdoors that emits sparks (e.g. grinder, chain saw) or open flame (e.g. welding or operating an acetylene or other torch) without a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher equal to or exceeding a rating of 2A 10BC readily available to the operator.
ReD Flag Warning
A Red Flag Warning means warm temperatures, very low humidity’s, and strong winds are expected to combine to produce increased risk of fire danger. These conditions are independent of antecedent weather, fuel types, and fuel moistures for the region. Locally, Red Flag Warnings are issued by the https://www.weather.gov/pub/ in Pueblo, CO.