My apologies for the long message, but there's been a good amount of information coming from the Sherriff's office.
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********** WATCH/LIAISON PROGRAMS (JEFFCO) **********
I know that many of you have already received this information and I apologize if we seem to be overloading your inbox; however, it is critical that we reach as many people as possible with this information.
Fire ban and fire restrictions remain in place; all personal use of fireworks banned Fire ban to the west and fire restrictions to the east.
Jefferson County, Co. � Due to the Governor�s Executive Order to ban personal use of fireworks statewide, the use of all fireworks in unincorporated Jefferson County is banned Effective June 15, 2012. This includes ALL FIREWORKS, even sparklers, snakes, etc.
NO USE OF ANY FIREWORKS ANYWHERE IN UNINCOORPORATED JEFFERSON COUNTY.
NO USE OF TIKI TORCHES OR CHIMINEAS� ANYWHERE IN UNINCOORPORATED JEFFERSON COUNTY.
NO USE OF PORTABLE FIRE PITS ANWYWERE IN UNINCOORPORATED JEFFERSON COUNTY.
NO USE OF CHARCOAL GRILLS WEST OF C470, WEST AND SOUTH OF C470 AND WADSWORTH BLVD., AND WEST OF HIGHWAY 93 .
The previous fire bans and fire restrictions that went into place on June 7, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. remain in place with the changes to the ban on fireworks, Tiki torches, chimineas�, and portable fire pits. The explanation of the restrictions and bans are below.
Traditionally, there is confusion over what is allowable when the county is under a fire ban and/or fire restrictions. The FAQs� below address much of this confusion. For more detail, please see the attached documents.
Am I in a fire ban or under fire restrictions?
� You are in a fire ban if you are located west of C470, west and south of the intersection of Wadsworth Blvd. and C470, or west of Highway 93.
� You are under fire restrictions if you are east of C470, east and north of the intersection of Wadsworth Blvd. and C470, or east of Highway 93.
What is allowed in a fire ban?
� Only devices that are liquid fueled or gas fueled are allowed. Simply put, gas grills, gas fire pits, gas stoves, and gas lanterns are allowed. The rule of thumb is whether or not the fire can be �turned off,� rather than �put out.�
What is not allowed in a fire ban?
� Anything which produces an open flame which is not liquid fueled or gas fueled. This includes charcoal grills, Tiki torches, fire pits, and chimineas�. This includes private residences.
� The use of any fireworks.
� Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or while stopped in an area of at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all combustible material.
� Using any fire to burn trash, debris, fence rows or vegetation, or any campfire.
� There are restrictions regarding operating a chain saw, operating an acetylene or other torch, welding, or the use of an explosive initiation system. See the attached for guidelines.
NOTE: The Sheriff�s Office will strictly enforce a zero tolerance policy on all fireworks violations in the fire ban area.
What is allowed under fire restrictions?
� Charcoal grill fires at a private residence or within a permanently constructed grate in a developed park, campground, or picnic area.
� Any fires contained within liquid fueled or gas fueled stoves, lanterns or heating devices.
� Fire pits that are constructed with a permanent fire grate within a developed campground, picnic ground or recreation site.
What is not allowed under fire restrictions:
� Any fire or campfire, not within a permanently constructed fire grate in a developed park, campground, private residence, or picnic area.
� The use of any fireworks
� Tiki torches, portable fire pits, and chimineas�. This includes private residences.
� Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area of at least three feet diameter that is barren or cleared of all combustible material.
NOTE: The Sheriff�s Office will strictly enforce a zero tolerance policy on all fireworks violations in the fire restriction area.
Jefferson County deputies will strictly enforce the temporary fire ban and temporary fire restrictions in the unincorporated areas, to include federal lands. Pursuant to County Policy Part 3, Chapter 6, Section 2, authorizing the Declaration of Open Fire Bans, violations of these prohibitions, upon conviction, is punishable by a fine of not more than $600.00. Such act(s) violate section(s) 102.8 and/or 308.2.1 of the International Fire Code.
www.jeffcosheriff.com
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Unincorporated Jefferson County enters full fire ban
The sale, use, or possession of fireworks banned in Jeffco
Jefferson County, Co. � Effective June 26, 2012 at 5:00 p.m., unincorporated Jefferson County entered a county wide fire ban due to the increase in fire hazard conditions. Also, the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners approved an ordinance giving the Sheriff the authority to ban the sale, use, or possession of fireworks in unincorporated Jefferson County.
Pursuant to the ordinance, the sale, use, or possession of fireworks in all of unincorporated Jefferson County is banned, including all federal lands. Violations of this fireworks ban shall be a class 2 petty offense and the penalty for a violation of this ordinance shall be a fine of not more than six hundred dollars ($600.00) for each separate violation.
What is allowed in a fire ban?
� Only devices that are liquid fueled or gas fueled are allowed. Simply put, gas grills, gas fire pits, gas stoves, and gas lanterns are allowed. The rule of thumb is whether or not the fire can be �turned off,� rather than �put out.�
� Charcoal grills are permitted at private residences only that are east of C470, east of Highway 93, and east and north of the intersection of C470 and Wadsworth Blvd.
What is not allowed in a fire ban?
� Charcoal grills are not permitted anywhere, including private residences, west of C470, west of Highway 93, and west and south of the intersection of C470 and Wadsworth Blvd.
� Anything which produces an open flame which is not liquid fueled or gas fueled. This includes tiki torches, fire pits, and chimineas�. This includes private residences.
� The use of any fireworks.
� Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or while stopped in an area of at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all combustible material.
� Using any fire to burn trash, debris, fence rows or vegetation, or any campfire.
� Operating a chain saw without a USDA or SAE approved spark arresting device properly installed and in effective working order, and having a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher of not less than eight ounces capacity by weight, and possessing one large size pointed shovel with an overall length of at least thirty-six inches. The extinguisher shall be with the chain saw operator. The shovel may be kept with the fueling supplies, but readily available for quick use.
NOTE: The Sheriff�s Office will strictly enforce a zero tolerance policy on all fireworks violations in the fire ban area.
These bans are pursuant to the ordinance adopted at Jefferson County, Policy Part 3, Chapter 6, Section 2, authorizing the declaration of open fire and/or firework sale, use, or possession bans.
