White River National Forest, BLM will lower fire restrictions on Friday

All lands managed by the White River National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management Upper Colorado River District will enter Stage 1 restrictions beginning Friday, Sept. 5, after nearly a month of being in Stage 2 restrictions.

Stage 2 restrictions went into place on Aug. 8 as fire danger increased across western Colorado. Recent monsoonal moisture has lowered fire danger across the area and has provided an assist to firefighters combating fires across Colorado’s Western Slope.

“Although the recent moisture across much of western Colorado has helped lower fire danger, we expect a return to hot dry weather, and conditions still warrant stage 1 fire restrictions,” said BLM Upper Colorado River District Manager Greg Larson in a release announcing the move. “We urge all residents and visitors to be vigilant and responsible with any outdoor activities that could spark a fire. Remember: Fireworks are not allowed on federal land.”

Under Stage 1 restrictions for the Bureau of Land Management and White River National Forest:

• Campfires are only allowed within designated fire grates in developed picnic areas and campgrounds (including the Forest Service Homestake Valley designated dispersed camping sites in Eagle County); this means a metal, permanently installed in-ground containment structure — fire pans and rock campfire rings are not acceptable. 
• No fires of any type, including charcoal, outside of developed areas
• Fully-enclosed metal stoves common in hunting tents are allowed on the White River National Forest provided the chimney is at least 5 feet in length and has a spark arrester with a quarter-inch or less screen opening and the area is cleared of vegetation   
• No smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or in a barren area free of vegetation
• No use of explosive materials, including explosive targets
• No welding or operation of an acetylene or other similar torch with open flame except in an area that has been cleared of vegetation
• No operation of any internal combustion engine without a spark-arresting device properly installed and in working order

Officials consider several criteria when determining the need for fire restrictions, including current and anticipated fire danger, resource availability, and consistency with neighboring jurisdictions. Local, county, state, and federal officials within this area evaluate and coordinate fire restrictions weekly during fire season. 

This story is from Vaildaily.com.