Fire Bans

The responsibility of initiating or rescinding fire bans falls to the sheriff of each county. Please direct any questions you may have to the Sheriff’s office in your county. To obtain a burn permit please go here.

Eagle County Sheriff's Office - (970) 328-8500

Pitkin County Sheriff's Office - (970) 920-5300

Pitkin County Burn Ban

The Pitkin County Sheriff, with the support from the Fire Chiefs of Aspen, Snowmass, Basalt, and Carbondale, is imposing open fire restrictions due to the unseasonably warm weather and lack of moisture. 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 ban and restrictions shall apply on all private and state lands in Pitkin County. Federal lands are excluded.

The fire ban and restrictions shall apply to the following persons and activities:

Building, maintaining, attending, or using any fire to burn trash, debris, fence rows or vegetation, any campfire, warming fire, or charcoal grill.
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 a chainsaw without a U.S.D.A. or other approved spark arresting device properly installed and in effective working order, and chemical pressurized fire extinguisher of not less then 8 ounces capacity by weight, and one size O or larger round-pointed shovel with an overall length of at least 36 inches. The extinguisher shall be kept with the chainsaw operator. The shovel may be kept with the fuel supplies, but readily available for use.
Welding or operation an acetylene or other torch with open flame; except within an area that is barren or cleared of all flammable material at least ten feet on all sides from the equipment.
Use of any fireworks or explosive requiring fuses or blasting caps.

The restrictions and ban stated above exclude the following:

Persons with a valid written permit from a Federal agency, 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 and fireplaces within buildings.
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 or the County Sheriff has granted a valid written permit in advance.

Knowingly or recklessly burning during this ban is illegal and legal actions may be taken against individuals in violation under CRS 30-15-410 and Pitkin County Resolution 96-38.

The temporary restrictions and burn ban are in effect until further notice.

If you have any questions please contact your local fire district or Sheriff’s Office at:


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