Penalties increased for leaving a Colorado campfire unattended in grasslands or forests
Violators can be hit with a maximum fine of $750, or six months in jail or both
July 2, 2018
This photo provided by the Department of Homeland Security Emergency Management shows a wildfire burning near Forbes Park in southern Colorado on June 28.
The penalties for leaving a campfire unattended or not fully extinguishedin grasslands or a forest just became stiffer in Colorado under a new state law that went into effect Sunday.
Under House Bill 1051, passed during the 2018 legislative session, violators will be hit with a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable by a maximum fine of $750, six months in jail or both.
That's a steep increase from the $50 fine that came with leaving a campfire unattended or not fully extinguished before.
"We realized that the penalty for leaving a fire unattended was ridiculously low," state Rep. Millie Hamner, D-Dillon, said on Monday.
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