Bureau of Land Management Royal Gorge office enters Stage 1 Fire Restrictions
CAÑON CITY, Colo. (KRDO) -- Wednesday, the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Royal Gorge Field Office announced Stage 1 Fire Restrictions for areas they manage due to dry conditions and high fire danger.
The fire restrictions apply to all BLM-administered public lands within the boundaries of:
- Lake County
- Teller County
- Park County
- El Paso County
- Fremont County
- Chaffee County
- Custer County
- Pueblo County
- Otero County
- Huerfano County
- Las Animas County
- Baca Counties
According to the BLM, the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in place until further notice.
“The recent and continuing windy conditions and low relative humidity have dried fuels, priming them for ignition,” said Royal Gorge Field Manager Keith Berger in a press release. “In order to reduce the risk of wildfire ignition and loss of values at risk, I am implementing Stage 1 fire restrictions today.”
Under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, the following acts are prohibited:
- Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire except within agency-provided fire grates at developed recreation sites. Devices using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel are permitted.
- Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle or building, at 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 a USDA or SAE approved spark arrester properly installed and working, a chemical fire extinguisher of not less than 8 ounces capacity by weight, and one round point shovel with an overall length of at least 36 inches.
- Using a welder, either arc or gas, or operating acetylene or other torches with an open flame, except in cleared areas of at least 10 feet in diameter with a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher of not less than 8 ounces capacity.
- Using exploding targets.
For more information about BLM Colorado Fire Restrictions, click here.
For general information about fire restrictions on all lands in Colorado, click here.
