Folks found violating fire restrictions in Summit County this summer will more than likely be cited for doing so.
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The Summit County Sheriff’s Office is taking a zero tolerance approach to illegally made fires, and the department filmed its officers issuing at least three citations since Stage 1 fire restrictions went into effect last Friday, said patrol sergeant Mike Schilling. The agency made a social media video about those they’ve ticketed to warn visitors.
“First and foremost, it’s a priority for the sheriff’s office because we want to keep our community safe,” Schilling said. “The warning is the signage at the trailhead, it’s in (news) stories like these, it’s on social media. Once you start an illegal fire, the time for a warning has passed.”
Stage 1 restrictions prohibit open fires anywhere but in permanent, designated rings built by the U.S. Forest Service. At dispersed campsites, the fire rings are usually made by previous campers, so fires are not permitted there. Additionally, fireworks are prohibited under Stage 1, so don’t expect to light up in the wilderness on the Fourth of July holiday.
But the White River National Forest expects to move to Stage 2 fire restrictions this Friday (June 26), according to spokesperson David Boyd. That means no wood-fueled or charcoal fires whatsoever. Campers are only permitted to use gas stoves to cook or roast marshmallows while out.
Following one of Colorado’s warmest and driest winters on record, most of the state is experiencing drought and is at high risk for wildfires. In Summit County, residential and commercial developments abut the forests, so the potential for fires to cause property damage and displace residents is especially concerning, Schilling said.
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When officers issue someone a citation, they are summoned to court where a judge determines individual penalties for each violation.
The White River National Forest encompasses the wilderness around Summit County hotspots like Breckenridge, Keystone and Silverthorne, as well as areas in Vail, Aspen, Glenwood Springs, and more. Last weekend, the Dillon Ranger District team marked about 120 rock fire rings with yellow “no campfire” flags and posted fire restriction signs at more than 120 trailheads, day use, and roadside locations, Boyd said. Additionally, the crew made over 200 contacts with the public, extinguished two abandoned campfires, and issued two warnings.
The Summit County Sheriff’s Office relies on citizens to report illegal fires, so Schilling encouraged people to do so by calling or texting 911.
“While the vast majority come here to be responsible, a lot of folks get out here and say, ‘hey, you know, this is the vacation I’ve been dreaming about for years and I’m going to make my fire regardless.’ We certainly come across that every year,” Schilling said. “We want visitors of Summit County to know that our community takes fire danger extremely seriously.”
Fire managers base decisions about fire restrictions on fuel‑moisture measurements, predicted weather, regional fire activity, and other risk factors. Stage 1 fire restrictions are currently active in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland; the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests; the Routt National Forest; the Salida and Leadville Ranger Districts in the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands; the Rio Grande National Forest; and the San Juan National Forest.
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