CONTACT #1:
Public Information Officer, Lt. Alan Stanton, 303-660-7586; pgr. 303-208-5233
CONTACT #2:
Douglas County Emergency Management Director, Jamie Moore, 303-660-7589
RELEASE DATE: 04/25/06 RELEASE TIME: 4:40 p.m. CASE NUMBER: N/A
WHAT:
Board of County Commissioners Pass Fire/Open Burning Restriction for Douglas County
WHEN:
Effective Immediately (04/26/06)
NARRATIVE: DOUGLAS COUNTY, CO – Earlier this afternoon, the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners adopted a resolution, R-006-068, which enacts ordinance O-003-001, restricting open fires in the unincorporated areas of Douglas County. The ordinance prohibits all open fires, including the sale and use of all fireworks, except in the following scenarios:
- Professional fireworks displays permitted according to section 12-28-103 of the C.R.S.
- Fires within liquid-fueled or gas-fueled stoves, fireplaces within buildings, charcoal grill fires within developed residential or commercial areas, and fires within wood burning stoves.
- Fire suppression or fire department training fires.
- Small recreational fires at developed picnic or campground sites contained in permanent fire pits or fire grates with flame lengths not in excess of four feet and which are supervised by a responsible person at least 21 years of age.
This ordinance was enacted in order to protect public health, safety, and welfare based on the following factors:
- Future weather forecasts, lack of precipitation, and heavy fuel loading have created a significant threat of fire in the forests and prairies of Douglas County.
- Open fires, burning, and fireworks can be a prime cause of forest and grass fires in Douglas County.
- It is necessary for the immediate preservation of public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Douglas County to impose a restriction on all open fires and open burning within the unincorporated areas of Douglas County.
- These fire restrictions are a proactive approach to eliminate human caused fire ignition sources.
Violation of these fire restrictions is a Class-2 Petty Offense, punishable by up to a $600.00 fine and a $22.00 surcharge.
Douglas County Emergency Management, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners are committed to a proactive response in preventing wildfires through fire restrictions and education. Sheriff David Weaver noted, “Preserving the safety of our citizens is and will always be our top priority”!
All inquires about the ordinance should be directed to the Douglas County Emergency Management at 303-6607589 or visit their website at:
www.douglas.co.us/countyadmin/emergencyservices
##30##
Release Page 1
