Eagle County sheriff keeps Stage II fire restrictions in place but allows shooting

The Eagle County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday issued the following press release keeping Stage II fire restrictions in place but allowing recreational shooting:

With Colorado facing extremely dangerous fire conditions, Eagle County Sheriff James Van Beek has decided to continue to enact Stage II fire restrictions in Eagle County. All law enforcement and fire agencies throughout Eagle County would like to thank everyone for their compliance, and cooperation with our current fire restrictions.

These updated restrictions will take effect on September 2, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. and will authorize recreational shooting throughout Eagle County while still implementing Stage II fire restrictions. The use of any explosive requiring a fuse or blasting caps, fireworks, rockets, exploding targets and tracers or incendiary ammunition is still prohibited under this order. 

Stage II fire restrictions prohibit the following:

• Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire, charcoal grill, any type of charcoal fueled broiler, tiki torch, wood burning stove, sheepherders stove, or open fire of any type. These restrictions include developed camping and picnic grounds and private property. Fire devices using a pressurized liquid or gas with shutoff valves are permitted when used in an area at least three feet or more from flammable material such as grasses, debris or pine needles. Fireplaces and wood burning stoves inside structures equipped with ember or spark arresters attached to chimneys are also exempted. 
• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, trailer, building or tent;
• Using an explosive requiring fuse or blasting caps, fireworks, rockets, firearms, exploding targets and tracers or incendiary ammunition;
• Operating a chainsaw, cutoff saw, or any other mechanical equipment without an approved spark arrestor and without chemical pressurized fire extinguisher (8 oz. capability by weight or larger and kept with the operator) and without one “O” or larger round point shovel with an overall length of at least 36 inches that is readily available for use;
• Welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame (except with a current permit, contract or letter of authorization from your local fire district and the welding area must be barren or cleared of all flammable material for 10 feet on all sides of the equipment);
• Using a motor vehicle off established roads, motorized trails or established parking areas, except when parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of the vehicle. 36 CFR § 261.56.
• Operating or using any internal combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order meeting either: 
  1. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Standard 5100-1a; or
  2. Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practice J335(b) and J350(a). 

The following persons are exempt from this order:

• Persons with a permit or letter of authorization specifically authorizing the prohibited act or omission.
• Any federal, state, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

Violation of federal fire restrictions is punishable by a fine of not more than $100,000 or imprisonment for not more than 12 months or both. Those found responsible for starting wildfires will also face restitution costs of suppressing the fire.

We want to remind our community, as well as visitors to the area, that they are our first line of defense in preventing wildland fires.Thank you everyone for doing your part to keep Eagle County safe and beautiful. 

When we are in a Red Flag Warning in Eagle County, this will automatically move restrictions up to the next level of fire restrictions. This means that while we are implementing Stage II Fire Restrictions and a Red Flag Warning is in effect we will move to a Fire Ban. Within a Fire Ban it will be implemented that ALL hot work, welding etc will require a permit from your local fire authority. More in depth information regarding the fire restrictions in Eagle County can be located at https://www.ecemergency.org/2020/04/eagle-county-fire-restriction-info.html

• A comprehensive listing of fire restrictions throughout the state and other fire related emergency information can be found online at www.coemergency.com .
   
• Information on current wildfires in Colorado and around the country is available at www.inciweb.org .

The Eagle County Sheriff’s Office is urging people living in and near fire-prone areas to be prepared for the worst by protecting their property through clearing brush and removing dead branches, along with many other steps that are outlined at www.firewise.org. In addition, residents should prepare for emergency evacuation plans and make sure they have their most valuable and important possessions are prepared in the event they are required to immediately leave the area. 

To receive real-time emergency text or email notifications, subscribe to EC Alert at www.ecalert.org .