News Flash

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO – The City of Glenwood Springs will join Garfield County, the Bureau of Land Management-Colorado River Valley Field Office, the US Forest Service and the regional Fire Districts in Garfield County (Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District, Colorado River Fire Rescue, Grand Valley Fire Protection District, Gypsum Fire Protection District, De Beque Fire Protection District and Lower Valley Fire Protection District) to enact Stage 1 fire restrictions effective 12:00 AM, April 17, 2020.

For the purpose of clarifying these restrictions the following definitions are offered.

By definition:

A "Developed Area" is an area, whether within city limits or rural, that is groomed, manicured and or watered, where grasses, brush and trees are regularly attended to by landowner. This includes residential and business areas, improved recreational areas, parks and other common areas.

An "Undeveloped Area" are lands that are not groomed, manicured, or watered, where grasses, brush and trees have been allowed to grow in a natural environment. This includes green belts that are not landscaped or manicured, open space lands, non-manicured park lands, and other areas where the fire hazard presented by the vegetation is determined by the authority having jurisdiction or designee to be an undue wildland fire hazard.

The following Stage 1 COVID modified restrictions shall be strictly enforced:

· All Burn Permits Cancelled. All burn permits are postponed/Canceled until further notice with the issuance of Stage 1 Burn Restrictions

· Campfires are only allowed within designated fire grates in Developed Areas (i.e. a permanent in-ground containment structure or store-bought fire pit) A temporary fire pan or rock campfire ring is not acceptable.

· No fires of any type, including charcoal, in Undeveloped Areas. This applies to personal and City park charcoal grills. Only natural gas or propane grills with a shut off valve shall be permitted.

· No smoking, except within a designated area, an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed area or in an area free of combustibles.

· No use of any explosives. All explosives are prohibited, including blasting caps, “exploding” targets, bullets, tracer rounds, model rockets, etc.

· Hot work. Exercise common sense and industry safety practice when welding or operation of an acetylene or other similar torch with open flame.

We are all aware of the extra burden that has been placed on our First Responders due to the COVID- 19 outbreak in our country and our communities. There are simply not enough firefighter/EMTs available for COVID-19 response and non-essential burning responses.

This is not only due to the limited number of firefighters but with the COVID-19 requirements there are spacing requirements for firefighter and crew safety.

It is also important to maintain our air quality as pristine as possible for those who may be sick or already having breathing issues and added respiratory concerns during these trying times.

We need to work together to reduce and minimize any additional strain on our First Responders; including firefighters, EMT’s, Law Enforcement, Doctors, Nurses as well as the people, friends and neighbors in our communities.

The Glenwood Springs Police Department will be strictly enforcing these fire restrictions. Violations can be reported to the Police Department at 970-384-6500 or to the Garfield County non-emergency line at 970-625-8095. Violators will receive a summons into Municipal Court.

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