The Routt County commissioners have declared Stage 2 Fire Restrictions, effective as of noon on Tuesday, June 23. The restrictions remain in effect until rescinded, states a Tuesday news release. 

The move is pursuant to the new ordinance passed by commissioners last week, which prohibits open fires in unincorporated parts of the county during periods of high fire danger, and supersedes the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions previously enacted on Thursday. 

The restriction applies to all county, state and privately owned lands outside of municipal boundaries.

Acts prohibited under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are similar to acts prohibited under Stage 2, including open fires and campfires except for petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns and heating devices that are underwriter approved and use of explosive materials, but have key differences, with fewer exemptions under Stage 2. 

Under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions, individual agencies — such as fire protection districts, state organizations or federal entities — may further restrict commercial activities like construction, logging, or oil and gas operations. 

The following exemptions are provided in Stage 2 fire restrictions:

1. Persons with a valid written permit which specifically authorizes the prohibited act: (a) from the fire protection district chief if subject land is within a fire protection district; (b) or the emergency operations manager after consultation with the sheriff if subject land is not within a fire protection district.
2. Commercially designed and enclosed cooking device located at a private residence used for cooking (charcoal, gas/propane, electric or wood pellet).
3. Any federal, state or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an actual duty.

For an exhaustive list of both prohibited acts and relevant exemptions under Stage 1 and Stage 2 fire restrictions, visit the county’s wildfire information page at CO.Routt.CO.US/158/Wildfire.

Residents are encouraged to stay up-to-date on emergencies by signing up at RouttCountyAlerts.com.

To contact your local fire chief, refer to the following information:

• North Routt Fire Protection District – Matt Mathisen, 970.879.6064
• Oak Creek Fire Protection District – Kenyon Shephard, 970.736.8104
• Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue – Chuck Cerasoli, 970.879.7170
• West Routt Fire Protection District – Trevor Guire, 970.276.3511
• Yampa Fire Protection District – Machia ‘Ky’ Cox, 970.846.2169