Per Buena Vista Fire Chief Villers, due to COVID-19, the Town of Buena Vista is following the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and their Stage 2 Fire Restrictions.
The USFS and BLM have also introduced Stage 2 Fire Restrictions on all lands within Chaffee County. These restrictions are in place to prevent the overtaxing of fire and medical resources of our local county and state partners.
The following fire-related activities are prohibited:
1. Igniting, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, including charcoal grills and barbecues, coal and wood burning stoves, and sheepherder’s stoves.
2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, trailer, or building.
Exceptions to the prohibited fire-related activities include:
1. Persons with a Forest Permit, Form FS-7700-48, specifically exempting them from the effect of this Order in the areas listed above.
2. Any Federal, State or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty is exempt from Prohibitions.
3. Persons using pressurized liquid or gas devices (stoves, grills or lanterns) with shut-off valves in an area at least three feet from any flammable materials are exempt from Prohibition #1.
4. Residents, owners or lessees within the areas listed above who are using a fire in a permanent dwelling with an effective and properly installed USDA- or SAE- approved spark arrestor, are exempt from Prohibition #1.
During this fire restriction period, igniting, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or smoking on national forests and grasslands is a violation of the law and may result in an appearance in federal court, fines, and possible time in jail.
Fire restrictions enhance public safety, protect natural and cultural resources, and help prevent human-caused wildfires.
