Blog Posts

STAGE 2 FIRE RESTRICTIONS GO INTO EFFECT IN PITKIN COUNTY

6/29/2018

The Pitkin County Sheriff is implementing Stage 2 fire restrictions effective at midnight on Friday, June 29, 2018.

Pitkin County joins the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Garfield, Gunnison and Eagle counties in implementing this more restrictive fire ban. Stage 2 means absolutely no campfires of any kind, no charcoal grills or barbecues, or the use of coal or wood burning stoves. All smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, trailer or building is prohibited.

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

Please refer to the chart below for further details:

STAGE 1 FIRE RESTRICTIONS IN EFFECT IN PITKIN COUNTY

6/12/2018

Press Release
For Immediate Release
Pitkin County Sheriff announces Stage 1 Fire Restrictions Effective immediately, June 12, 2018

Pitkin County, Colorado - June 12, 2018 -The Pitkin County Sheriff, with the support of all Fire Chiefs of Aspen, Snowmass, Basalt, and Carbondale, is imposing Stage 1 fire restrictions due to the unseasonably warm weather and lack of moisture this summer. The fuel moisture content of trees, grass and brush is significantly low and at risk of a devastating fire.

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:

Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire except within a developed recreation site, or improved site to include a fire ring/pit. 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 material.
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.
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:

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.
Any Federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
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.
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.
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.

The temporary restrictions are in effect until further notice.

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

Pitkin County Emergency 911 to Test New Alert System on 3/1/18

2/26/2018

The Pitkin County Emergency Communications Center will test it's new cellphone-based alert system on Thursday, March 1st at 3 p.m. Cellphone users between Aspen and Aspen Village will receive this test alert.

It is similar to the Amber Alert system that local cell phone users may be familiar with. This alert system will only be used in instances where there is an immediate threat to life or property. Cell phone users do not have to sign up and register to receive these types of alerts.

Pitkin Alert will continue to be useful for receiving less emergent alerts including traffic accident/delay alerts, local Mountain Rescue Aspen and Sheriff's Department press releases, and severe weather alerts.

Local residents who have not yet signed up for Pitkin Alert are encouraged to do so by clicking HERE

For more information on the FEMA alert system click HERE

February 26th, 2018

2/26/2018

Distracted Driving - Public Outreach

9/7/2017

While there are no hard statistics on the number of automobile accidents locally that are caused by distracted driving, local law enforcement and public safety officials agree that it is one of the most serious problems on the highway these days. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics show that one 1 in 4 fatal accidents across the country are caused by distracted driving and every day eleven teenagers die texting and driving. That’s why the Pitkin County Public Safety Council and Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office have teamed up to elevate awareness in the community about the problem.

Informational videos, radio, newspaper and social media ads will be launched the first week of September and will be seen in local newspapers, on television and radio, and on popular social media sites throughout the month.

Pitkin County Sheriff's Office deputies will increase their routine patrol of local roads and State highways focusing on distracted driving education and enforcement throughout the month of September.

“You don’t have to be a cop to notice how many people are either talking on their cellphones while driving or worse, texting while driving,” said Pitkin County Sheriff, Joe DiSalvo. “The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office is cracking down on distracted driving and we hope this campaign helps us educate the public and maybe even save a few lives,” DiSalvo said.

The target audience of the outreach campaign is Millennials - males and females 18 to 35 years old. Statistics show that this demographic is the most at risk for injury or fatal accidents resulting from distracted driving.

“We respond to accidents all the time that we suspect were caused by distracted driving” said Pitkin County Sheriff’s Operations Commander, Alex Burchetta. “National statistics show that eleven teenagers die every day texting and driving. We would like to help reduce the risk of that happening in our community,” Burchetta said.

Specially designed warning tickets emphasizing the laws against texting and driving and associated penalties will be given to drivers that deputies pull over who they witness driving while distracted. Drivers who get pulled over who have already received a warning may be ticketed, according to the Sheriff’s Office.