July 29 - 2008 - Larimer County has Adopted  Fire "Restrictions"

Click here to see a copy of the Resolution

Click here to see a copy of the Press Release.

RCVFD's interpretation and response policy.

The following is RCVFD's current understanding of the restrictions.
Remember, the county ordinance, not this list, is the final authority.

Fires that are NOT allowed:

• Open  camp and cooking fires except as described below.

• Charcoal grills - unless permanent.  The general rule is "if you can pick it up and move it, you cannot burn in it.

  •  Exception:  Residents living in unincorporated Larimer county can use Charcoal Grills at their residence if place on a non-combustible surface (bare dirt, concrete, etc.)  Charcoal Grills on decks (wood, trex, etc.) are not allowed.

• Welding or using acetylene or other torches with an open flame.

• Smoking outside, except as noted below.

• Fireworks.

• Ditch burning unless completely surrounded by irrigated land - Note - there are NO locations in RCVFD's area that qualify for this.

Fires that are allowed:

• Cooking or heating fires in contained grills fueled by bottled gas or pressurized liquid and operated in a device specifically designed for that purpose.

• Cooking fires in permanently constructed, stationary metal or masonry fireplaces specifically designed for that purpose.

• Charcoal Grills at your home when place on non-combustible surfaces

• Fires in commercially operated wood or charcoal fired grills designed for cooking.

• Smoking inside a car.  The smoking instrument can never protrude from the car.

• Smoking within a 3ft diameter barren area (parking lot).

• Stoves and fireplaces installed in your house with approved spark arrestors.

Exemptions:

You can apply for exemptions to this restriction. However, because Rist Canyon VFD is not a tax-based governmental agency, RCVFD cannot grant the exemptions. RCVFD will review your exemption and coordinate with Larimer county Emergency Services.

To apply for an exemption in the RCVFD Response area,

1. Contact the RCVFD Fire Chief or Assistant Fire Chief (see contact page) with your request at least 1 week in advance!

2. RCVFD will review your request and may require modifications, conditions or an inspection.  Note: RCVFD/LCES will typically consider exhemptions for:
   Work related welding if the equipment cannot be moved into a garage
   Religious and Cultural events.
   Note- LCES lists ditch burning as a category they may approve, however, it is very unlikely RCVFD will approve any ditch burning in our area.

3. If RCVFD approves of your request, we will contact Larimer County Emergency Services (LCES) with our recommendation to approve.  Typically, LCES will simply approve exemptions that RCVFD recommends are approved. They view RCVFD as being the experts in our area, but the legal process requires their approval, not RCVFD's.

4. If RCVFD does not approve/support your request, you may, of course, submit the request to LCES directly. However, you should know that it is highly unlikely that LCES would approve an exemption that RCVFD has not reviewed or does not support.

RCVFD Protocol regarding any Larimer County Fire Restriction.

This is the RCVFD protocol regarding any Larimer County fire ban or restriction.  Items not addressed here will be handled on a case by case basis.  The definitive document would be whatever Larimer County issues regarding any fire bans or restrictions.

NOTE:  Since RCVFD does not have legal authority to grant an exemption to a fire ban/restriction, we cannot typically do so at the spur of the moment.  We will try to handle violations of any ban/restriction a sensitive and reasonable manner, but since an ordinance has been passed, much of the leeway the RCVFD incident commander usually has is gone.  If we respond to an illegal fire (under the ban/restriction) we will likely extinguish it. 

What will RCVFD do if we come to an illegal fire (ban or no ban).

• We will extinguish the fire.
• We will report it to the Sheriff - we really don't have any choice since they page us - they know as soon as we do.
• The Sheriff's department will deal with any enforcement issues.