Adams County lifts Stage 1 outdoor-burning restrictions
The change took effect Sept. 21 in unincorporated Adams County, but state air-quality rules and local fire-district requirements still apply.
Adams County lifted its Stage 1 fire restrictions Sept. 21, returning unincorporated areas to no fire restrictions after nearly two months under tighter controls. The change took effect immediately, according to the Adams County Office of Emergency Management.
The county imposed Stage 1 restrictions July 23, prohibiting open burning and fireworks. Sheriff Gene Claps approved the change, which will remain in effect until further notice, the county said.
No fire restrictions does not mean residents can burn anywhere or at any time. State air-quality rules still apply. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment says small open burns generally involve no more than 50 piles, with each pile no larger than 8 feet by 8 feet by 8 feet, and each pile must be extinguished by sunset. Larger burns may require a smoke-management permit. In the Denver-Boulder metropolitan area, open burning is generally prohibited from Nov. 1 through March 31, subject to exemptions.
Burning also should not occur during red-flag warnings, high-wind advisories or air-quality action days, according to the South Adams County Fire Department. Those instructions apply within that department’s service area; requirements can vary by the fire district serving a property. Residents should check with their local fire district and obtain any required permit before starting an outdoor burn.