Gunnison County under Stage 1 fire restrictions

Gunnison County Sheriff Adam Murdie implemented Stage 1 fire restrictions on Thursday, July 3.

The decision was made in coordination with the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. The restrictions ban fireworks and campfires outside of established campgrounds within designated fire rings, among other limitations.

“We all go together into fire restrictions stages, so when Forest Service and BLM go, we follow as a county,” Murdie said.

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Stage 1 restrictions are in response to worsening drought conditions, firefighter availability and fuel dryness. Murdie said he also took into account two, human-caused wildfires in Gunnison County this summer. The first occurred in June northwest of Taylor Reservoir. The fire burned roughly five acres before its containment. On July 1, a brushfire ignited east of Crawford Reservoir and was contained by July 2.

Under Stage 1 restrictions, the following are prohibited, according to the Gunnison County website:

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Campfires outside of permanently constructed fire rings.

• All personal fireworks use.

• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area of at least three feet of barren or cleared of all combustible material.

• Explosive targets.

• Welding or operating acetylene torches with open flame, except in cleared areas of at least 10 feet in diameter and when the operator is in possession of a chemical-pressurized fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of 2A.

• Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark-arresting device that is in effective working order and has been properly installed and maintained.

• Agricultural burning.

The following activities are still allowed:

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Permanent/established fire devices - fire within permanently constructed fire devices on private property or in developed recreational sites such as campgrounds or picnic areas. Flame length cannot exceed two feet in height.

• Temporary/portable fire devices: fires in portable chimneys, fire pits, and tiki torches are permitted only on private property.

• Stoves, lanterns, cooking, and heating devices: fires may be fueled by liquid, jellied petroleum or gas, and they must be contained within the devices.

• Chainsaws: chainsaws are allowed only if the device includes a USDA forest service or SAE approved spark arrester, and where the operator is in possession of a chemical-pressurized fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of 2A.

Each week, the Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office meets with regional and local agencies to discuss current conditions in the valley. A Tuesday call includes members from the BLM, Forest Service, local fire departments and sheriffs from Colorado’s Seventh Judicial District, including Gunnison, Delta, Hinsdale, Ouray and San Miguel counties. On Wednesday, a local meeting typically outlines the staffing and availability of wildland firefighter crews, should a wildfire occur.

“[Fire restrictions] can be really effective, because it prevents people from doing stupid stuff,” Murdie said. “If we don't have human-caused fires in the county, all we have to deal with are natural-caused ones.”

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, Gunnison County is currently experiencing a moderate to severe drought. The conditions are expected to worsen throughout the summer months, and last until at least late September. Murdie said the forecast could lead to Stage 2 fire restrictions being implemented in the upcoming months.

“Right now, things are going to burn really well, because it’s been hot and dry, and the fuel humidities are very low,” Murdie said. “Light fuels, like grass and sagebrush will burn like crazy, and heavy fuels, like large trees, will burn hard and fast.”

To stay up-to-date with current fire restrictions, follow the QR code below.

To Report a wildfire, call 911. Attempt to provide the following information if in a safe environment: location (as specific as possible), smoke color, smoke direction, size of area (if possible) and flame height (if possible).

(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@gunnisontimes.com.)