The Grand County Board of County Commissioners have voted to return to Stage 1 Fire Restrictions that will go into effect Thursday, Sept. 11 at midnight. The commissioners voted on this during their meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 9, following the recommendation of Grand County Sheriff Brett Schroetlin.

This change means that people in Grand County will be able to once again build open fires in developed recreation sites and on private property, use charcoal grills and barbecues, smoke outdoors in area operate welding and power equipments with fewer restrictions, and smoke outdoors in areas cleared of all flammable materials.

Previously, the commissioners voted to enact Stage 2 restrictions during their meeting on Aug. 19, which was the sheriff’s recommendation at the time.

“The Grand County Sheriff’s Office, in cooperation with our local fire districts and federal partners, consistently monitor fire conditions and the necessity of fire restrictions on a regular basis,” the sheriff’s office stated in a news release.

Staff used their scientific fire restriction matrix to make the choice to reduce the restriction levels. According to the sheriff’s office, the decision to lower restrictions was based on the latest conditions and data in the matrix.

The news release states that the commissioners’ decision is the result of a collaborative effort between the sheriff, local fire districts, the Bureau of Land Management’s Kremmling Field Office, the Sulphur Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, and the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.

“We give considerable weight to the recommendation of the sheriff,” wrote Commission Chair Randy George. “He follows a matrix of factors to assess the level of risk. Vegetation moisture, predicted temperatures and humidity, availability of firefighting resources are among these factors. Additionally, we coordinate with the fire district chiefs and the federal agencies. With over (two-thirds) of the (county) being public lands, it only makes sense that we all have the same level of fire restrictions.”

What are stage one fire restrictions?

The following activities and uses are prohibited under Stage 1 fire restrictions:

• Building, maintaining, attending, or using an open fire outside of a developed recreation site. Dispersed campfires in forested areas are not permitted.
• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed campground or picnic area or while stopped in an area of at least six feet in diameter that is barren of all combustible materials.
• Operating a chainsaw without an approved spark-arresting device properly installed and in working order.
• Welding or operating torches with open flame, except in an area of at least ten feet in diameter that is barren of all combustible materials.
• Incendiary devices (excluding permissible fireworks).

The following activities and uses are allowed under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions:

• Open fires in developed campgrounds with fees and hosts or picnic areas with permanently constructed fire grates and/or charcoal grills.
• Fires contained within liquid or gas fueled stoves, lanterns or heating devices, and wood pellet grills and stoves.
• Open fires at private residences within permanent or portable outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, chimineas, and/or grills.
• Permissible fireworks according to state statute. Permitted, professional fireworks displays in Grand County are allowed.

A violation of Grand County fire restrictions is punishable by a $1,000 fine for each separate offense. Each town within Grand County also has the ability to implement fire restrictions as determined by its local government.

The recorded Grand County Fire Restrictions Phone Line can be reached at 970-725-3852 to hear the latest fire restrictions. Individuals can also view current fire restrictions at GCEmergency.com. To report a fire restriction violation, please contact the Grand County Communications Center at 970-725-3311.