The Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Fire bans across Northwest Colorado — except for those pertaining to state and private lands in Moffat County — were lifted this morning.

Restrictions in Grand, Jack-son, Routt and Rio Blanco counties and the Routt National Forest were lifted as a result of widespread moisture and rain, according to the Northwest Colorado Fire Management Unit.

“The moisture we have received has been fairly widespread, except for the western part of Moffat County,” said Lynn Barclay, spokeswoman for the unit.

A wildfire thousands of acres in size continued to burn in northern Moffat County on Tuesday. It was reported that the fire started when a camper blew a tire. Although restrictions are being lifted in other counties, Barclay stressed continued caution.

“Some pockets of extremely high fire danger exist, but it’s not across the board,” Barclay said. “We are still asking and encouraging people to be careful with fire.”

There was a consensus to lift most Northwest Colorado bans, except those in Moffat County, after a conference call last week with officials across the five-county district. But it takes time to officially lift the bans. For example, the ban in Routt County couldn’t be lifted until a meeting between the Routt County Board of Commissioners and Routt County Emergency Management Director Chuck Vale was held Tuesday.

Barclay said the current repeal of restrictions does not mean there won’t be more this year.

“I wouldn’t bet the bank on that,” Barclay said. “It would just depend on what develops and what doesn’t develop.”