On Tuesday , June 14 , 2022 at 3:00 pm during a special meeting of the Delta County Board of County Commissioners , Sheriff Mark Taylor and Emergency Management requested the Commissioners enact Stage 1 Fire Restrictions for unincorporated Delta County .  Sheriff Taylor and Emergency Management relayed that Delta County and surrounding areas are in a period of extremely high fire danger and fire restrictions are warranted for the safety of residents and to take proactive steps to prevent a devastating wildfire in Delta County .  
   Delta County has been extremely hot and dry the past week with temperatures climbing above 100 degrees and we have seen an extremely windy spring with an increased number of Red Flag Warning days issued by the National Weather Service . The U . S . Drought Monitor ranks the majority of Delta County as being in moderate to Severe Drought after yet another cycle of La Nina weather patterns and a mild winter .  These conditions combined with very little precipitation this spring , dry fuels , low humidity and high winds create extreme fire danger across Delta County .  
   The Sheriff and Emergency Management recommended Commissioners enact Stage 1 fire restrictions following weekly coordination between regional representatives and fire experts from the U . S . Forest Service , Bureau of Land Management ( BLM ) , Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control ( DFPC ) ; emergency managers and Sheriffs across the West Region .   Agency representatives on the Tuesday ,  June 7th call reported fire indices were reaching the 90th percentile across the region and causing extreme concern and need for fire restrictions this week . Following this call , Emergency Management coordinated with the local Delta County Fire Chiefs and all fire chiefs agreed fire restrictions are needed in Delta County . During the Tuesday , June 14th call , agencies were in agreement for a coordinated effort to enter Stage 1 fire restrictions across the region with most counties entering Stage 1 restrictions at 12:01 am on Wednesday , June 15 , 2022 .   
   The Sheriff’s recommendation and Board’s decision to implement Stage 1 restrictions coincides with the implementation of stage 1 restrictions by Montrose , Gunnison , Ouray , San Miguel and Hinsdale Counties .  The Bureau of Land Management and the GMUG National Forest also announced their agencies will be entering stage 1 restrictions this week .  Each of these agencies will make their own announcements regarding effective dates , areas and restriction criteria .  
   Stage 1 Fire restrictions for unincorporated Delta County will go into effect at 12:01 am on Wednesday , June 15 , 2022 and will remain in effect until rescinded or unless conditions deteriorate and Stage II restrictions are implemented .  Stage 1 Fire restrictions apply to unincorporated Delta County except: for Bureau of Land Management and U . S . Forest Service lands , Crawford and Sweitzer State Parks and property within municipalities which have adopted their own burning regulations .  
   Under Stage 1 fire restrictions , the following acts are PROHIBITED:
   Igniting , building , attending or maintaining an open fire
    – includes but not limited to agricultural burning , all campfires , warming fires , and burning of fence rows , wildlands , trash or debris . Personal portable wood or open charcoal fire pits/rings are not allowed .  
   Use of an explosive or fireworks of any kind 
   and brands including exploding targets , blasting caps , fireworks , rockets , tracer rounds or other incendiary ammunition ( except professional fireworks displays with a valid issued permit ) .  
   Smoking , except within an enclosed vehicle or building
    , a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials .
   Operating a chainsaw without an effective and properly installed USDA or SAE approved spark arrestor ,
    a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher ( with a minimum 8 oz . capacity and rating of 2A ) kept with the operator and a round point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches readily available for use .
   Persons found violating the restriction may be cited into Delta County Court and , upon conviction , incur fines and costs . In addition , should the violation of this resolution result in a fire , the violator shall be responsible to reimburse the expenses incurred in extinguishing the fire .
   The following are ALLOWED under Stage 1:
   Use of BBQs , grills or camp stoves that are fueled by liquid petroleum fuels ,  
   Charcoal BBQs/grills in enclosed firepans or permanent fireplace locations ,
   Use of a fully enclosed metal stove or sheep herder type stove with a chimney at least 5 feet in length and a mesh spark arrestor screen with an opening of ¼ inch or less .  
   Responsible target practice with non - incendiary/explosive targets or ammunition .  
   Welding if conducted in a safe manner in an area void of combustible material .  
   Fire restrictions shall remain in effect from June 15 , 2022 at 12:01 am until rescinded .
   For more information ,
   view the full Resolution ( 2022 - R - 18 )
    .
   Details . . .
   

Press release information:

Direct link to press release: Click here .

Keywords and search queries from search engines related to the press release :