Crested Butte Fire Protection District

23 hours ago

Red Flag Warning today for high winds and low humidity.
Stay safe, and report any fires. ... See MoreSee Less

Crested Butte Fire Protection District

1 day ago

“What are fire restrictions?”

Red Flag Warning:
A temporary National Weather Service warning that critical fire-weather conditions (warm temps, low humidity, strong winds) are expected and that fires could spread rapidly. It does not automatically create legal fire bans everywhere, though it signals you should follow local restrictions immediately.

Stage 1 restrictions:
Prohibited-
-Campfires outside of permanently constructed fire rings
-All personal fireworks use
-Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area of at least three feet of barren or cleared of all combustible material
-Explosive targets
-Welding or operating acetylene torches with open flame, except in cleared areas of at least 10 feet in diameter and when the operator is in possession of a chemical-pressurized fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of 2A
-Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark-arresting device that is in effective working order and has been properly installed and maintained
-Agricultural burning

Allowed-
-Permanent/Established Fire Devices - fire within permanently constructed fire devices on private property or in developed recreational sites such as campgrounds or picnic areas Flame length cannot exceed two feet in height
-Temporary/Portable Fire Devices: fires in portable chimney's, fire pits, and tiki torches are permitted only on private property
-Stoves, lanterns, cooking, and heating devices: Fires may be fueled by liquid, jellied petroleum or gas, and they must be contained within the devices
-Chainsaws: Chainsaws are allowed only if the device includes a USDA forest service or SAE approved spark arrester, and where the operator is in possession of a chemical-pressurized fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of 2a

Stage 2 restrictions:
Prohibited-
-All personal uses of fireworks
-Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire. This includes charcoal grills and barbecues, coal and wood burning stoves and sheepherder’s stoves and includes use in developed camping and picnic grounds. (Note: Use of charcoal grills, hibachis and coal or wood-burning stoves is always prohibited on federal land.)
-Smoking (cigarettes, cigars, etc.), except within an enclosed vehicle, building or trailer.
-Welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame.
-Possessing or using either standard or off-road motor vehicles off established roads, motorized trails or established parking areas, except when parking in an area devoid or vegetation within 10 feet of the vehicle.
-Explosive targets. This includes, but is not limited to, fuses or blasting caps, fireworks, rockets, exploding targets, and tracers or incendiary devices.
-Agricultural burns.
-Operating a chainsaw unless it utilizes an approved spark-arresting device (as described in the “Combustion Engines” section), a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher (8 oz. capacity by weight or larger and kept with the operator) and a round point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches readily available
-Operating or using any internal combustion engine(e.g. chainsaw, generator, ATV), unless it utilizes a spark-arresting device that is properly installed, maintained and in effective working order ... See MoreSee Less