Fire Bans

[Urban Snowshoer]

As we all know, it's been a dry year in Colorado and fire bans are increasingly being implemented. The exact restrictions vary--some jurisdictions don't have any at all while at least a couple are already at Stage 2.

Checking this link http://www.coemergency.com/p/fire-bans-danger.html is highly recommended before heading out.

[greenonion]

Thank you for posting this. This needs to be listened to and understood by everyone more and more these days.

[powhound]

Thank you for posting this. This needs to be listened to and understood by everyone more and more these days.

+1

However, it is not 100% accurate. I noticed a couple of contradictions. On the Map, El Paso County is shaded blue, indicating fire restrictions - and when you click on El Paso itself, the info is accurate to the color, but when you scroll down beneath the map it says no restrictions in El Paso. I only looked at a few, and noticed Fremont County is mixed up too. There could be more.

[Urban Snowshoer]

Thank you for posting this. This needs to be listened to and understood by everyone more and more these days.

+1

However, it is not 100% accurate. I noticed a couple of contradictions. On the Map, El Paso County is shaded blue, indicating fire restrictions - and when you click on El Paso itself, the info is accurate to the color, but when you scroll down beneath the map it says no restrictions in El Paso. I only looked at a few, and noticed Fremont County is mixed up too. There could be more.

Since it is kind of a pain to repost the link for every possible jurisdiction, I intended the link to be a starting point. If there is any uncertainty, or as you pointed out issues with accuracy, there's the contact information for every jurisdiction so you can get the final word on what is and isn't permitted.

[dpage]

https://www.9news.com/mobile/article/ne ... -558779306

Here's an active fire. This morning driving to Estes, I thought I saw smoke in the Boulder Foothills. Anyone know what if anything that was?

And one near Leadville
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/05/25/w ... leadville/

Edited to add the Leadville fire.

[Urban Snowshoer]

Although maybe not as pertinent to 14er climbing as other counties, it looks like Gunnison just enacted a fire ban. http://www.gunnisoncounty.org/852/Wildfire-Information

Having a campfire may not be given this year, especially later in the summer. I can live without a campfire but being without a stove would be tough--those flameless heaters are hard to get your hands on. Fortunately, bans on stoves don't seem to happen too often.

[Chicago Transplant]

BUMP!

Given there are at least 5 active fires in Colorado as of this morning (June 11, 2018), I thought it was a good idea to bump this thread and remind people to check the local restrictions before heading out. Please make sure to check not only the National Forest(s) you will be visiting but also the County Sheriff's Office(s) you will be visiting.

Driving down to the Sangres this weekend we saw signage in both Chaffee County and Fremont County indicating their Stage 1 bans. Custer County (where we were) has a Stage 2 ban. Despite the Stage 2 ban, we saw 2 campfires along the South Colony Lakes road, one in a metal fire ring (okay for stage 1, but not stage 2) and one in rocks at a dispersed site. That site was across from our camp and we talked to the campers there.

Please remember that even if there is no ban in the National Forest you are in, the County may have one and that will supersede the NF. Fines and jail time are both possible for violating these bans, especially if you start a fire. I know for some the atmosphere of a good campfire "makes" the experience, but let's all be cautious. It was a dry winter and its a hot dry June so far. This past weekend was also windy with many Red Flag Warnings throughout the state.

A nice campfire is not worth the risk, sorry to be so cliche, but "know before you go". Thanks!

Some links:

Good starting resource with links to each county:
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dfpc/f ... strictions

Map for Colorado counties: https://fusiontables.googleusercontent. ... =2&tmplt=3


Active fires:
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/

[Tigerbear]

Why doesn't the governor just make a statewide fire ban?
It is ridiculous to think people are going to find the phone number for every county or city or forest they visit.
It's just too confusing.....

[LURE]

Why doesn't the governor just make a statewide fire ban?
It is ridiculous to think people are going to find the phone number for every county or city or forest they visit.
It's just too confusing.....

Figuring out the current fire ban situation in the places you visit is no harder than figuring out where the damn trailhead is that you're trying to go to. I admit, the online portion of figuring out fire bans is not very efficient and not always up to date. HOWEVER, If people can't take the 5 minutes to understand what county they are going to be in, and understand that county has a sheriff's department with phone number they can, oh my gosh, dial, to figure out the fire situation... well then, they have no business being in the woods in the first place.

[Chicago Transplant]

Personally I just think that if you can't confirm that there is NOT a fire ban, don't have a fire.

Given how dry the state is as a whole, I think the best course of action right now is to just voluntarily "ban" fires from your own camping until at the very least we get some serious rain.

[pmeadco]

Looks like the entire San Juan NF is now closed.
http://www.koaa.com/story/38396175/san- ... wn-tuesday

[Bombay2Boulder]

Edit: People need to check the site!