The town of Hayden is under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions.

The restrictions took effect June 18 and will remain in place until conditions improve, according to a Monday statement.

Hayden officials said the move comes as fire danger reaches very high to extreme levels due to dry conditions, heavy fuels and weather forecasts. 

The Routt County Sheriff’s Office declared a red flag warning and a high wind Stage 2 Fire Restriction on Saturday. Stage 1 Fire Restrictions were previously enacted for unincorporated parts of the county on Thursday.

Routt County Emergency Manager Mo DeMorat said agencies across jurisdictions coordinate weekly to assess factors such as fuel moisture, weather and firefighting resources. Sheriff Doug Scherar noted the county recently met six of eight criteria used to trigger restrictions and warned Stage 2 measures could follow if conditions worsen.

Stage 1 restrictions prohibit open fires, most campfires, fireworks and other ignition sources, as well as certain activities like welding or chainsaw use without proper safety equipment. Limited exceptions apply, including permitted fires, approved cooking devices and some agricultural or emergency uses.

The town is coordinating enforcement with the West Routt Fire Protection District. Violations are subject to penalties under the ordinance.

Residents are encouraged to stay current on fire conditions by signing up to receive updates at RouttCountyAlerts.com.