Rio Blanco County, the White River BLM Field Office and the White River National Forest will enter Stage II fire restrictions at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 14.
According to the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office, more dry weather and extreme fire behavior are predicted, indicating the need for Stage II restrictions, which are as follows:
Prohibitions:
- Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire, charcoal grill, coal, wood burning stove or sheepherders stove, including in developed camping and picnic grounds. Devices using pressurized liquid or gas are exempted.
- Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, trailer, building or tent.
- Using an explosive requiring fuse or blasting caps, fireworks, rockets, exploding targets and tracers or incendiary ammunition.
- Operating a chainsaw without an approved spark arrestor, and without a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher and a round-point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches. The extinguisher will be with the equipment operator. The shovel may be kept with fueling supplies but readily available for use.
- Welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame (except with a current permit, contract or letter of authorization).
- Operating or using any internal combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order meeting either the Department of Agriculture Forest Service Standard 5100-1a or Appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practice J335 (b) and J350 (a).
Exemptions:
- Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.
- Any Federal, State or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
The order will remain in force until rescinded.
