The Bureau of Land Management Kremmling Field Office and the United States Forest Service’s Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland announced that each has instituted Stage 1 fire restrictions on its lands.

BLM manages land in Grand, Jackson, Eagle, Summit and Larimer counties. In Grand County, BLM land is mostly concentrated on the western side of the county.

Restrictions went into effect on Sept. 11 for both the agencies’ land.

Under Stage 1 fire restrictions, the following acts are prohibited:

• Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire outside of fire grates at developed recreation sites.
• Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
• Operating a chainsaw without an approved and functioning spark arrester, a chemical fire extinguisher and one round shovel.
• Using exploding targets or fireworks.

Previously, federal lands were in Stage 2 fire restrictions. Grand County government also announced its lands were moving to Stage 1 restrictions on Sept. 9.

The BLM states anyone caught in violation of federal restrictions could face a fine of up to $1,000, 12 months of imprisonment or both. Additionally, if a fire results from a violation, the violator is responsible for paying the suppression and damage costs.

“The restrictions align with local orders and guidelines to protect the public’s safety during high fire danger,” the BLM Kremmling Field Office stated in a news release.