FIRE BAN STATUS as of July 28, 2010:
July 28, 2010
Fire Ban, Stage 1 Restrictions:
Allowed Activities:
1. Open fires only at developed recreation sites or improved sites;
2. Charcoal, propane or other contained fuel grill use;
3. Open fires in metal fire rings in campgrounds and parks;
4. Smoking only within an enclosed vehicle or building, at a developed recreation
site, within a designated smoking area with an approved container for discarding
of butts, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials;
5. Use of an approved spark arrestor for use of any internal combustion engine, only if equipped with an approved spark arrestor;
6. Outdoor welding and grinding with proper distance from combustible materials, as
long as there is proper and appropriate fire protection and suppression
equipment in place.
Prohibited Activities:
1. All open fires, open burning and smoking if not specifically allowed above;
2. All agricultural burning including but not limited to weeds, brush, grass;
3. All burning of trash, waste, refuse or other debris;
4. Use and/or discharge of fireworks or pyrotechnic device and solid fuel rockets;
5. Use of any explosives;
6. Open fires using rock ring burn pits;
7. Recreational below ground cooking;
8. Outdoor smoking except as specifically allowed above, including discarding of
cigarette butts at any location or from any vehicle.
OPEN BURNING PERMITS NOW REQUIRED
January 30, 2009
Open burning permits required inside city fire district boundaries
Debbie Bell
The Daily Record
In an effort to create a safer environment, the Cañon City Area Fire Protection District now is requiring open burning permits inside its boundaries.
“We wanted to have a little better control over open burning,” said Chief Dan Brixey.
Permits are free of charge and take only minutes to obtain from either fire station.
“This is a tool we can utilize to make certain regulations are followed,” Brixey said.
In addition to the permit, each applicant also will receive a copy of all local burning regulations. Confined to a single page, the regulations are not lengthy but are important, Brixey said.
Open burning is permitted only with agricultural sources and during daylight hours. No burning is allowed within 50 feet of a structure, and a garden hose connected to a water supply or other approved fire-extinguishing equipment must be available at all times.
In addition, the person responsible for burning must call the fire department office each day, before lighting the fire, to obtain permission depending on current fire conditions.
Other regulations are spelled out in the permit. The permit is issued per user, who must be on site and may be responsible for burns at different addresses at different times. The permit must be on that person during each burn.
“We’ll utilize this to help better control open burning, so hopefully it doesn’t get away from people,” Brixey said. “That has been a problem in the past.”
The permit will be good for one calendar year and must be renewed at the beginning of each year. Failure to obtain a permit is a violation of the Fire Code, but Brixey said the first year will be a learning tool. The department is not looking to write violations.
“The fire district recognizes that the permit process is new, and would like to provide this information prior to the spring burning season,” Brixey said. ““Burning is a privilege, not necessarily a right.” Many other communities do not allow open burning within their boundaries.
“With that privilege comes responsibility that you don’t burn your neighbor out of his house and home.”
Permits are available from Fire Station 1 at 1475 N. 15th St., and Fire Station 2, 1349 Elm Ave. For more information on the required permits or open burning, call the main fire house at 275-8666.
