Grand County Commissioners voted to enact a Stage 1 fire ban on Friday, June 28, though decided not to regulate commercial firework displays. All of Grand County’s municipalities including Kremmling, Granby, Grand Lake, Fraser and Winter Park have chosen to follow in the County’s footsteps and have enacted fire restrictions that mimic those of the County.

The Stage 1 fire ban prohibits open burning and the use of private fireworks, but allows fires at public and private commercial campgrounds in fire pits or grates.

Open burning is defined as any type of outdoor fire including fires in pits, barrels, chimineas, charcoal fires on public property, and burning of slash piles and other debris. The ban does not include liquid or gas fueled stoves, fireplaces within buildings, self-contained and enclosed charcoal grills (off the ground) at private residences, and permanent fire pits or grates at established commercial campgrounds.

County commissioners decided to allow individual municipalities within the county to choose whether to allow fireworks displays for the upcoming Fourth of July celebrations for each town, according to County Manager Lurline Underbrink Curran.

Public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service in Grand County were put under similar fire restrictions on Thursday.

Smoking outside incorporated city limits is strongly discouraged except within enclosed motor vehicles, buildings, or developed campgrounds.

Violation of the fire ban will result in a $100 fine for the first offense, $250 for the second offense, and could reach $1,000 for the third offense.

The County’s fire ban was passed during a special meeting of the Board of Grand County Commissioners on Friday, June 28, and went into effect immediately after its signing.

Grand County Sheriff Rod Johnson agreed with commissioners that implementing a fire ban was in the best interest of the County due to high fire danger.