Media Release - Stage 1 Fire Restrictions - 06-25-2013

7/28/2019 Media Release - Stage 1 Fire Restrictions - 06-25-2013

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ROUTT COUNTY OFFICE OF

Emergency Management

MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Date: J une 25, 2013

Time: 1600 Hours

ROUTT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL CONSIDER

STAGE 1 FIRE RESTRICTIONS

Routt County, Colorado – PURSUANT TO ORDINANCE NO. 2013-2, AN ORDINANCE TO

RESTRICT FIRES IN UNINCORPORATED PORTIONS OF ROUTT COUNTY DURING PERIODS OF HIGH

FIRE DANGER, THE ROUTT COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL CONSIDER A

COUNTY-WIDE FIRE RESTRICTION ON PRIVATE AND STATE LANDS NEXT TUESDAY, JULY 2, 2013

AT 10:55 A.M.

Fire danger has increased below 9,000 feet where we have critical fuel conditions inRoutt County. Fire restrictions are considered only when very high or extreme firedanger is predicted to persist. This determination is based upon current conditions,long-term weather forecasts, and upon the heavy, dry fuel loading which createsthe potential for uncontrollable fires.

Wildfires can affect entire communities by destroying homes and natural habitatand by killing wildlife. People must take all necessary safety precautions inwildlands and forests. According to Routt County Emergency Manager Bob Struble,

“we put these restrictions in place to reduce the likelihood of human-caused fires.” The restrictions will remain in effect until officials determine that conditions havechanged sufficiently to reduce the risk of a human-caused wildfire. Rescinding therestrictions will be considered when the critical elements diminish.

If the Routt County Board of County Commissioners decides to enact the firerestrictions, it will apply to all private and state owned lands outside municipal

boundaries. Exemptions to this order: (a) in unincorporated private and state landswithin fire protection district may be granted only by the fire protection district firechief; or (b) in unincorporated private and state lands outside of a fire protectiondistrict by the Routt County Emergency Manager after consultation with the RouttCounty Sheriff, and only if the proposed action is deemed by the fire protectiondistrict chief or, if appropriate Emergency Manager, in consultation with the Sheriff tobe safe and the attendant fire danger can be satisfactorily mitigated.

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STAGE ONE RESTRICTIONS:

The following acts are prohibited on all private and state owned lands outside of municipal boundaries. This does not affect federal lands within Routt County.

1. Building, maintaining, attending or using any fire to burn trash, debris,fence rows, irrigation ditches or vegetation, any campfire, warming fire,charcoal grill, except in designated campgrounds, picnic areas or developedrecreational sites.

2. Smoking; except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developedrecreational site, or while stopped in an area of at least (3) feet in diameterthat is barren or cleared of all flammable material.

3. Operating a chainsaw without a USDA or SAE approved spark arrestingdevice (muffler) properly installed and in effective working order, and achemical pressurized fire extinguisher of not less than eight (8) ouncecapacity by weight, and one (1) round pointed shovel with an overall lengthof at least 36 inches. The extinguisher will be with the chainsaw operator.The shovel may be kept with the fueling supplies but readily available forquick use.

4. Welding or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame; except withinan area that is barren or cleared of all flammable material at least 10 feet onall sides from the equipment.

5. Using explosives requiring fuses or blasting caps.

Exemptions from Stage 1 Restrictions:

1. Persons with a valid written permit which specifically authorizes theprohibited act: (a) from the fire protection district chief if subject land iswithin a fire protection district; (b) or Routt County Emergency Manager afterconsultation with the Routt County Sheriff if subject land is not within a fireprotection district.

2. Any federal, state or local officer or member of an organized rescue orfirefighting force in the performance of an actual duty.

3. Any fires contained within stoves, fireplaces within buildings, charcoal grillfires, recreational fires at private residences with valid permit from districtchief, and permanent fire pits or fire grates in developed picnic grounds andcamp grounds.

4. Burning of irrigation ditches located within and completely surrounded byirrigated farm lands where such burning is necessary for crop survival withproper permit from: (a) fire protection district chief if subject land is within a

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fire protection district; (b) or Routt County Emergency Manager afterconsultation with the Routt County Sheriff if subject land is not within a fireprotection district.

5. Hot air balloon activities and the use of UL approved liquid-fueled or gas fueled

“Camp Fire in a Can.”

6. Campfires or bonfires required in religious ceremonies were a specific writtenpermit has been granted in advance by: (a) the fire protection district chief if subject land is within a fire protection district; or (b) the Routt County EmergencyManager after consultation with the Routt County Sheriff if subject land is notwithin a fire protection district.

Fine Schedule and Penalty Assessment Procedure. Any person who violatesthis order commits a class 2 petty offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall bepunished by a fine of note more than six hundred dollars ($600) for each separateoffense. However, the following fine schedule shall apply:

First Offense Not more than $100Second Offense Not more than $200Third or Subsequent

Offense The maximum fine permitted by law

Should you have any questions, please call your Fire Protection District Chief or theRoutt County Office of Emergency Management at (970) 870-5551. Thank you foryour cooperation.

North Routt Fire Protection District

Bob Reilley – (970) 879-6064

Oak Creek Fire Protection District

Chuck Wisecup – (970) 736-8104

West Routt Fire Protection District

Bryan Rickman – (970) 276-3796

Yampa Fire Protection District

Dan Allen – (970) 757-0238

Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue

Mel Stewart – (970) 879-7170

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Bob Struble, DirectorCheryl Dalton, Emergency Management Specialist

Routt County Office of Emergency Management522 Lincoln Avenue, Second Floor – P.O. Box 773598

Steamboat Springs, CO 80477-3598

(970) 870-5551 (970) 870-5549 (970) 870-5561 (Fax)[email protected] [email protected]

www.co.routt.co.us

mailto:[email protected]




http://www.co.routt.co.us/







Fuels and Fire Behavior AdvisoryWestern Slope of Colorado

06/21/2013

Subject: Western Colorado is in the third year of drought. The situation is predicted to persist or intensifythrough July. There is increased risk of large fire development and intense fire behavior. Dry, heavy fuels at

higher elevations could pose a greater risk of active fire behavior.

Discussion: The wet spring pattern that occurred during April and May has provided a brief reprieve. Liveand dead fuel moistures are quickly returning to a condition that will support large fire growth. Forecasts do not offer the prospect of live or dead fuels conditions improving through July.

Difference from normal conditions: Fuels are described by fire managers as being deceptively greenThe visual greenness being observed can lessen the sense of fire potential. Live fuels, which had shownsome improvement from late spring precipitation, are drying. On the Western Slope of Colorado, 100FM fuelsare setting historically low values for the date, nearing the 3rd percentile, and moving into the rangeassociated with historic large fires. Long-term drying has made large, higher elevation fuels, available as well.

Concerns to Firefighters and the Public:

Recent large fires on the Front Range and Western Slope have displayed intense and/or extreme fire

behavior.

Long-range spotting, fire whorls, extreme fireline intensity and high winds have been observed and will

continue to be control problems on both wildland and urban interface incidents.

Local preparedness planning and cooperation should be on-going.

Management of suppression resources rest and recovery as activity increases.

Mitigation Measures: Strategies for dealing with each of the specific circumstances listed above includeusing Predictive Service’s forecasts of higher potential for large fire occurrence, rapid initial attack in thosehigh risk areas, and daily fire and fuels briefings to suppression personnel.

BRIEFINGS

All resources need to be aware of local conditions and hazards. Through briefings from local units must occur in order to

understand local influences and understand unique hazards.

LOCAL FACTORS

Large areas of beetle killed lodge pole and spruce pine beetle have verified risks associated with available dead fuels

and falling snags.

TERRAIN AND FUELS MAKE ESCAPE TO SAFETY ZONES DIFFICULT

Gambles Oak is highly receptive with fuel moistures <125% especially when aligned with wind, slope, and sun.

INDUSTRIAL INTERFACE

Review and understand Interagency Standards for Fire and Aviation Operations Chapter 7-20, Responding to Wildland

Fires in or near Oil/Gas Operations. Safety and Risk Management Chapter 7

RISK MANAGEMENT

Constantly evaluate the probability and the severity of your actions. Evaluate the risk you accept against the values at

risk. Stand fast on the principles of HRO and the Risk Management Process with all actions taken.

Area of Concern: Submitted by the Upper Colorado River Fire Management Unit, Colorado, WesternSlope.

http://www.nifc.gov/PUBLICATIONS/redbook/2013/Chapter07.pdf




Documents

Media Release - Stage 1 Fire Restrictions - 06-25-2013