Stage I fire restrictions begin today for all Bureau of Land Management lands administered by the Gunnison Field Office within the boundaries of Gunnison, San Juan and portions of Saguache County.
Stage I fire restrictions prohibit campfires except within designated fire grates in developed campgrounds. No fires of any type, including charcoal, outside of developed areas.
No smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building, and no use of explosive materials, including explosive targets.
Fireworks are always prohibited on federal lands.
Summit County will move to Stage II fire restrictions beginning tomorrow.
Stage II fire restrictions prohibit all open fires. In addition to campfires, the restrictions ban a number of other activities, including fireworks, explosives of any kind, charcoal and wood pellet grills, smokers, and wood burning stoves.
Liquid and gas fueled stoves that can be turned on and off with a valve are permitted.
A number of wildfires continue to burn in Colorado, mostly on the dry Western Slope.
The Oil Springs fire has burned almost 12,000 acres in Rio Blanco County north of Grand Junction and has 0 percent containment.
Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued in the Sylvan Fire burning in Eagle County about 12 miles south of Gypsum. The Sylvan Fire has grown to over 3,500 acres. Lightning is suspected as the cause of the fire.
The Muddy Slide Fire has burned just over 4,000 acres in the Routt National Forest south of Steamboat Springs.
Over 20 counties in Colorado have implemented fire restrictions.
