Sheriff Tony Spurlock has moved the county from stage 2 to stage 1 fire restrictions, according to a release from the sheriff’s office. This ruling, under ordinance No. O-012-004, restricts open fires, open burning and the use of fireworks in the unincorporated areas of Douglas County.

With the fire restriction stage being downgraded, Douglas County residents can now use chimineas and other portable fireplaces or patio fire pits, hold campfires at developed campgrounds and attend professional firework displays.

General guidance for Stage 1 restrictions for unincorporated Douglas County is as follows, according to the release:

Prohibited Activities:

Open burning of any kind.

Use of fireworks.

Allowable Activities:

Fires within liquid-fueled or gas-fueled stoves, fireplaces within buildings, charcoal grill fires within developed residential or commercial areas, and fires within wood burning stoves within buildings only.

Professional fireworks displays permitted according to section 12-28-103 of the C.R.S.

Fire suppression or fire department training fires.

Small recreational fires at developed picnic or campground sites contained in fixed permanent metal/steel fire pits (rock fire rings are considered temporary and not permanent) with flame lengths not in excess of four feet or the residential use of charcoal grills, tiki torches, fires in chimineas or other portable fireplaces or patio fire pits, so long as said fires are supervised by a responsible person at least 18 years of age.

Violation of these fire restrictions is a Class-2 Petty Offense, punishable by up to a $1000.00 fine and a $10.00 surcharge, according to the release.