Level 1 Fire Ban in Effect 

The Boulder County Sheriff's Office has enacted Stage 1 fire restrictions,  effective immediately, Thursday, April 21, for all areas of unincorporated Boulder County. The fire restrictions are being implemented due to increasing fire danger, lack of moisture, and the forecast for hot temperatures. In addition, local and regional fire suppression resources have also been committed to large fires in Colorado and across the nation. The fire restrictions include the mountain areas of Boulder County. 

The fire ban PROHIBITS:

1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using an open fire, campfire, or stove fire (including charcoal barbecues and grills);

2. Use of all fireworks;

3. Shooting or discharging firearms for recreational purposes, except for hunting with a valid and current hunting license;

4. Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials;

5. Operating a chainsaw without a USDA or SAE-approved spark arrester properly installed and in effective working order. A chemical, pressurized fire-extinguisher must be kept with the operator, and at least one round-point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches must be readily available for use;

6. Welding or operating an acetylene or other open-flame torch, except in cleared areas of at least 10 feet in diameter, and with a chemical, pressurized fire-extinguisher immediately available for use; and

7. Using an explosive.

The fire ban ALLOWS:

1. Building, maintain, attending or using a fire in constructed, permanent fire pits or fire grates, within developed recreation sites, and on private lands;

       2. The use of portable stoves; lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized l                liquid fuel; or a fully enclosed (sheepherder-type) stove with a 1/4" spark arrester-              type screen
 
                                                              For More Information on the Fire Ban >>

Red Flag Warnings

As many of you may know, Boulder County and our region is extremely dry and we have had 15 days of Red Flag Warnings already in April.

There has been a Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service for today, Friday, April 22. This has been placed for Extreme Fire Weather Conditions from 11 am to 9 pm MDT on Friday, April 22 for strong winds combined with low relative humidity.

What does this mean for you and how can you best be prepared?

Winds will become strong late morning into early afternoon Friday, and then remain strong though the early evening hours. Winds will be south 20-35 mph with gusts up to 45-60 mph, with relative humidity 7 to 10 percent. 
 
Any fire that starts will have the potential to spread rapidly, and would be difficult to control. Avoid any and all outdoor activities that may produce a spark and start a fast moving and potentially destructive wildfire.

Boulder County Sheriff's Office and the Lyons Fire Protection District want to remind residents that during a Red Flag Warning day in order to protect the health and safety of all - no open flames allowed including, no gas grills, no propane grills, no drones (with strong winds), no chainsaws, nothing that could create a spark.

In addition, reminding residents to take some time now to be ready with a plan, should Lyons experience a situation that would require an immediate evacuation.