By order of the Pitkin County Sheriff, effective Friday, August 31, 2018, at 12:01 p.m. all Stage II fire restrictions in Pitkin County are rescinded, and all lands in Pitkin County will revert back to Stage I fire restrictions. These Stage I fire restrictions are in place until further notice. Announcing the decision to revert back to Stage I fire restrictions, Sheriff Joe DiSalvo said “We use data and science to guide our decision-making process in these situations. The data we’ve seen supports this decision clearly. I work closely with the Fire Chiefs from Aspen, Snowmass, Basalt and Carbondale fire districts, in addition to our State and Federal partners to ensure we approach all fire restrictions in Pitkin County in a coordinated manner and are doing so in the best interest of the public.” Fire Chief Scott Thompson of the Basalt and Snowmass Fire Departments reminds people that "You still need to be careful. Warm daytime temperatures and wind could still cause a fire to get out of control. People must remain vigilant and understand that fires are still a possibility." The health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Pitkin County require that the use of open fires, equipment, and explosives be regulated in order to prevent wildfires under existing conditions. The following open fire restrictions shall apply on all private and state lands in Pitkin County. The fire restrictions shall apply to the following persons and activities: A. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire except within a developed recreation site, or improved site to include a fire ring/pit. B. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, or building, at a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area of at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materia C. Operating or using an internal or external combustion engine without an approved spark-arresting device properly installed, maintained, and in effective working order meeting either the USDA Forest Service Standards or appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practices. D. Use of any personal fireworks or explosive requiring fuses or blasting caps as defined by Colorado Revised Statute 12-28-101 (8). The restrictions stated above exclude the following: 1. Persons with a valid written permit from the Pitkin County Sheriff, or the fire district within which the fire is to occur specifically authorizing the prohibited act. 2. Any Federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty. 3. Any fires contained within a liquid fuel or gas fuel stove, fireplaces within buildings, charcoal grill fires at private residences, and fires located within permanent fire pits or fire grates to the extent those pits or grates are located in developed picnic grounds, campgrounds or recreational sites. 4. Burning of irrigation ditches located within and completely surrounded by irrigated farmlands, where such burning is necessary for crop survival, and a specific written permit has been granted for such burning, in advance, by the fire district having jurisdiction. 5. Campfires or bonfires required in religious ceremonies, for which a Federal agency, the Fire District, and the County Sheriff has granted a valid written permit in advance. Knowingly or recklessly burning during the restriction period is illegal and legal actions may be taken against individuals in violation under CRS 30-15-410 and Pitkin County Resolution 96. If you have any questions please contact your local fire district, District Ranger or the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office at: Aspen Fire Protection District -- 970-925-5532 Basalt & Rural Fire Protection District -- 970-704-0675 Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District -- 970-963-2491 Snowmass/Wildcat Fire Protection District -- 970-923-2212 Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office -- 970-920-5300 White River National Forest -- 970-963-2255 The Aspen-Sopris Ranger District will now be taking public phone calls about the Lake Christine Fire. Please call 970-963-2266 for updated information or continue to follow the Lake Christine Facebook page. The Lake Christine Facebook page will be updated as needed or as new information becomes available. Thank you for your continued patience, feedback and interest on the #LakeChristineFire
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