Amid high fire danger and continued hot, dry weather, some Colorado communities are enhancing their fire restrictions this week.
Federal land managers are heightening restrictions on public lands in northern Colorado, including the popular White River National Forest. The new rules include a ban on all campfires, outdoor charcoal grills and wood stoves, and fireworks.
“I do this with some hesitancy, knowing that it will impact people and be an inconvenience, but the conditions warrant this,” says Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams. “We all know what’s going on in Fort Collins and other places in the state. And what we want to do is just minimize the potential of human-caused starts.”
Fitzwilliams says the area’s wildfire potential is at a historic high - perhaps even worse than during the notable drought and fire year of 2002. The Stage II fire restrictions [.pdf] take effect this Friday.
This week Larimer County, and the town of Dillon, issued a ban on selling fireworks. The sale of fireworks is still legal in most Colorado communities, although their private use is not.
Thanks to Bob Berwyn for posting this handy guide to the different stages of fire restrictions.
