The Summit Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday, Oct. 8, to place the county under Stage 1 fire restrictions.

Summit County Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons told the commissioners that after a summer that saw no local fire restrictions, the restrictions are necessary this fall amid what is expected to be a dry stretch of weather.

“At the beginning of spring and through the summer, we rode this roller coaster where we saw many counties west of us go into restrictions, and we never did because we stayed wet,” FitzSimons said. “Today … it was the opposite. We’re the only county between here and Grand Junction going into restrictions because their fuel moisture levels are different.”

The fire restrictions will take effect Friday, Oct. 11. The Dillon Ranger District, which includes all of the White River National Forest within Summit County’s borders, will be under the same restrictions, FitzSimons said.

Under Stage 1 fire restrictions, open fires — including campfires, warming fires, bonfires or prescribed burns — are prohibited. Use of fireworks, tracer ammunition, explosive or incendiary projectiles and disposal of any burning object outdoors — including cigarettes, cigars or matches — are also not allowed.

Fires are allowed in constructed, permanent metal fire pits or fire grates within developed recreation sites, such as campgrounds and picnic areas, though all campgrounds in the Dillon Ranger District are already closed for the winter, according to a news release from the county government. But campfires are not allowed within rock fire rings such as those found at many designated dispersed camping sites in the county.

Under the restrictions, fires are allowed on private property if contained within a commercially designed and manufactured outdoor fireplace or portable outdoor fireplace that is assembled, located and operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and permitted by the local fire districts. Any such device must be equipped with a protective screen that reduces the spread of embers, the area must be barren, the fire must be at least 15 feet from a flammable material or structure and the size of the fire can be no larger than 3 feet wide and 2 feet tall.

Use of gas, charcoal and wood pellet grills are allowed under Stage 1 restrictions, according to the county government. But in all cases, a fire must be constantly attended by a responsible adult, extinguished and cool to the touch prior to being left unattended and there must be a fire extinguisher, five gallon bucket of water or a charged garden hose within immediate reach.

Smoking outdoors is allowed under Stage 1 fire restrictions if the individual is at least 3 feet away from any natural vegetation or flammable materials, the release states. But on U.S. Forest Service lands, smoking is only permitted within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or in a barren area free of vegetation.

The restrictions also place limitations on the use of chainsaws and industrial equipment, like welding equipment.

“We feel fortunate to have had a lot of moisture for most of this summer, but the vegetation in Summit County is now very dry, as we often see this time of year,” Commissioner Tamara Pogue said in a statement. “We don’t expect that conditions will improve in the near future, and it’s important for us to be proactive in preventing wildfires.”

The fire danger in Summit County is currently at “very high.” FitzSimons said that live fuel moistures locally have dropped to “historic levels,” and the forecast calls for a dry spell over the next 14 days.

FitzSimons said the fire restrictions will likely remain in place in the county until there is a foot of snow on the ground. 

“When I walk in here with my skis on my shoulder, I’m coming to take away the restrictions,” FitzSimons said jokingly. But noted that if he returns before the commissioners before then, it could be to raise the fire restrictions to a higher stage.

Visit SummitCountyCO.gov/wildfire for more information on the fire restrictions.