This temporary fire ban applies to all lands in unincorporated Jefferson County, to include all federal lands and is in response to the continuing high fire danger conditions is Jefferson County. The ban prohibits a number of actions, including:
- Anything which produces an open flame or has the potential to create an uncontrolled fire.
- Building, maintaining, attending, or using any fire to burn trash, debris, fence rows or vegetation, or any campfire or warming fire.
- Use of charcoal or other open fires on any public or private lands.
- Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or while stopped in an area of at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all combustible material.
- Operating a chain saw without a USDA or SAE approved spark arresting device properly installed and in effective working order, and having a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher of not less than eight (8) ounces capacity by weight, and possessing one large size pointed shovel with an overall length of at least thirty-six (36) inches. The extinguisher shall be with the chain saw operator. The shovel may be kept with the fueling supplies, but readily available for quick use.
- Welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame, except within an area that is barren or cleared of all combustible material at least ten feet on all sides from the equipment.
- Use of an explosive initiation system requiring a burning fuse line.
- Permissible fireworks, as defined by Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-28-101.
- Persons with a valid written permit from the Sheriff and/or the local fire department which specifically authorizes the prohibited act.
- Any federal, state, or local law enforcement officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
- Any fires contained within liquid fueled or gas fueled stoves.
ban shall not be authorized unless one of the exemptions listed above applies.
Exemptions to this temporary fire ban shall be granted within non-federal land only by the Sheriff, and/or the local fire department only if the proposed action is deemed by the Sheriff and/or the local fire department or district to be safe and mitigable. 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 the activity.
This temporary fire ban becomes effective at 9 a.m. on September 14, 2010, and shall remain in effect until superseded or rescinded.
For more information regarding this release, contact the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer, Jacki Kelley at (303) 271-5697 or Mark Techmeyer at (303) 271-5602. Be sure to check both the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office page for the latest regarding fire ban status or check the Colorado Fire Ban page at http://cofireban.info.
