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Reminder to be aware of fire bans, restrictions and safety

A campfire burning in a campsite ring

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06/30/2022

Jason Clay
Northeast Region Public Information Officer
303-291-7234 / [email protected] 
@CPW_NE

Visitors to public lands for Independence Day celebrations urged to be aware of fire bans, restrictions and safety

Federal, state, and county agencies remind visitors and residents alike that fire danger is high in Colorado and recreating on public lands requires knowledge of area fire restrictions and bans. 

DENVER - While campfires often accompany camping, as do fireworks with the Fourth of July, extreme caution needs to be exercised this holiday and throughout the summer due to Colorado’s continued drought and the frequency of human-caused fires. Visitors enjoying public lands have a responsibility to know where campfires are allowed, how to properly extinguish them and that all fireworks are banned on Front Range public lands.

Between 2017 and 2021, 89 percent of wildfires in the United States were caused by people, according to the U.S. Department of Interior and the Insurance Information Institute. Each year in Colorado, campfires that burn out of control are the leading human cause of wildfires. 
 
Public land agencies along northern Colorado’s Front Range emphasize that although parts of Colorado have received moisture in the last month, drought conditions are still present. According to the National Weather Service U.S. Drought Monitor, as of June 21, 99 percent of Colorado is still experiencing abnormally dry to exceptional drought conditions. Specifically, 38.5 percent of Colorado is classified as moderate drought, 30.3 percent as severe drought, and 12.5 percent as extreme drought.
 
Tips for fire safety and prevention include:

  • Check regulations for campfire restrictions and/or bans. Many areas do not allow campfires, and some areas that normally allow them are in a full fire ban instituted by local authorities and public land managers.  
  • The smallest spark can start a big fire. Avoid parking or driving on dry grass, and don’t let trailer chains drag.    
  • Know smoking restrictions. Many agencies do not allow smoking in natural areas.  
  • Use designated campfire areas when allowed and available. Never leave a campfire unattended for any reason, and report campfires that have been left burning.
  • Make sure your campfire is dead out. Drown the campfire ashes with water. Stir, add more water, and stir again. Even if you don’t see embers, winds can easily re-ignite and spread an unattended campfire. If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave.
  • Know exit routes in the area you visit. Download a trail map and carry a print map. Create a plan for an emergency such as fire. Access public land websites, including Colorado Trail Explorer (COTREX), to view critical advisories and trail maps.
  • Fireworks are not permitted on Front Range public lands.

The group of public land agencies who participated in this joint release ask visitors to check local fire bans and restrictions BEFORE planning their outings:

These messages are part of a broader effort by eight agencies collaborating on ways to address the challenges of high visitation and a growing population in northern Colorado’s foothills and mountains. Called NoCo PLACES 2050, this collaboration is committed to sustainable solutions, equitable actions, and beneficial land management practices for the long-term conservation of public lands in Colorado and the quality of the visitor experience. Learn about NoCo PLACES 2050.

Media Contacts:

  • Vivienne Jannatpour, Boulder County Parks & Open Space, 303-678-6277
  • Megan Hiler, Clear Creek County, 303-679-2313
  • Sandy Hollingsworth, Gilpin County, 720-646-8301
  • Matthew Robbins, Jefferson County Open Space, 303-271-5902
  • Korrie Johnston, Larimer County Natural Resources, 970-619-4561
  • Jason Clay, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 303-829-7143
  • Kyle Patterson, Rocky Mountain National Park, 970-586-1363
  • Reid Armstrong, U.S. Forest Service, 970-222-7607

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.