Delta County is in stage 2 fire resctrictions

ORDER OF THE DELTA COUNTY SHERIFF – ENACTING STAGE 2 FIRE RESTRICTIONS WITHIN DELTA COUNTY – EFFECTIVE FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 2025.

WHEREAS, The Sheriff of Delta County, Colorado pursuant to C.R.S. § 30-10-512 and C.R.S. § 30-10-513 is authorized to act as fire warden of Delta County and is responsible for coordination of fire suppression efforts in case of prairie, forest, or wildland fires or wildfires occurring in unincorporated areas of the County outside the boundaries of a fire protection district or when a fire exceeds the capabilities of a fire protection district to control; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Delta County Ordinance No. 2024-02 (Delta County Open Burning ond Local Fire Restriction Ordinance), the Sheriff has been authorized by the Board of County Commissioners in Delta County, Colorado to enact Stage I and Stage II fire restrictions within all or portions of unincorporated Delta County when high fire danger conditions exist and rescind those restrictions when appropriate; and

WHEREAS, the Sheriff upon consultation with Emergency Management, fire protection districts, State and Federal land and wildfire management professionals has determined Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are necessary and prudent to reduce the danger of human caused wildfires to protect residents and personal property within Delta County; and

WHEREAS, the County has not seen typical summer monsoon rains to help decrease wildfire risk and there is no relief in sight from hot, dry, windy weather conditions, and there is extremely low fuel moisture and relative humidity levels which when combined with a low availability of fire suppression resources within the region and nationally, increases the risk of rapid wildfire growth if a fire should start;

NOW, THEREFORE it be resolved that as of Friday, August 8, 2025 at 12:01 am, Stage Two Fire Restrictions will be implemented within Delta County to include: all unincorporated areas of the county, state parks and wildfire areas and within the Town limits of any municipality within Delta County which elects by appropriate ordinance or resolution to have the provisions of Stage 2 restrictions apply within their jurisdiction. Stage 2 restrictions shall remain in effect until rescinded by order of the Sheriff.

Please note, Stage 2 restrictions have been implemented by several other neighboring jurisdictions and others remain in Stage 1 which may cause different restrictions in different jurisdictions, It is the responsibility of each individual to know and adhere to fire restrictions in the jurisdiction where you live or are vacationing. A complete listing of county and federal land fire restrictions can be found at: WestSlopeFirelnfo.com

The following are PROHIBITED during Stage 2 Fire Restrictions:

Building, maintaining, attending or using any fire, campfire or stove fire outside – recreational fires of all kinds are prohibited,
All open and agricultural burning of trash and/or debris,
Fires in portable chimineas, charcoal BBQ grills, decorative or warming fire pits and tiki torches,
Smoking outside in an area NOT void of combustible materials or the disposal of a lit cigarette butt from a moving vehicle,
The use of explosives or fireworks of any kind as defined pursuant to R.$.§ 30-15-401(1)(n.7) to include the use of exploding targets and tracer ammunition,
Use of a motor vehicle/ Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) outside the boundaries of an established road, motorized trail or parking in an area outside an established parking area that is void of flammable vegetation within 10 feet of the vehicle,
Operating a chainsaw or other internal combustion engine without a properly installed USDA or SAE approved spark arrestor,
Welding or use of acetylene torches which produce a flame outside in an area that is NOT void of all combustible materials of at least 30 feet in all directions from the operating equipment while possessing a pressurized class 2A fire extinguisher.

The following activities are ALLOWED during Stage 2 Restrictions:

Propane, natural gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuels such as lanterns, BBQ grills, stoves or back-yard fire features when equipped with a shut-off valve when used in an area at least 3 feet in diameter from any flammable material,
Use of a chainsaw or other internal combustion engine WITH a USDA/SAE approved spark arrestor properly installed and functioning while in possession of an eight (8) ounce or greater chemical pressurized fire extinguisher and a rounded point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches readily available
Responsible target practice using normal ammunition non-tracer ammunition.
Welding in a safe manner in an area void of combustible material within 30 feet and while possessing a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of