News

The City of Fort Collins lifted Stage 2 Fire Restrictions, effective immediately. These restrictions were implemented on Monday, August 31 due to a totality of circumstances that included degraded air quality and fire restrictions in other communities. This decision to lift restrictions was made by City Manager Darin Atteberry after a consultation with Poudre Fire Authority Fire Chief Tom DeMint.

While the fire restrictions have been lifted, requirements for outdoor burning within city limits still apply, including the following:

• Only clean, dry, untreated wood may be burned. Burning yard waste or garbage is prohibited.
• Fires must be a minimum of 15 feet from any property line, structure, or combustible surface.
• Fires are prohibited between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and must be fully extinguished by 10 p.m.
• Fires must be attended by a competent person at all times and have means for extinguishment readily available.
• Solid fuel burning grills and smokers may be used and are exempt from these requirements, with the exception of burning yard waste or garbage.

Smoke and odor from wood burning can be considered a public nuisance with negative impacts to our neighbors, especially those with existing respiratory illnesses, children, and older populations. Furthermore, many of our community members are recovering from COVID-19 and may be more susceptible to smoke impacts. We encourage the community to consider the following prior to having a fire:

• Sign up for air quality alerts at www.colorado.gov/airquality/request_alerts.aspx and refrain from burning on high pollution advisory days.
• Check the local air quality index and weather conditions at www.fcgov.com/airquality.
• While maintaining appropriate physical distancing, contact your neighbors to determine if they have concerns about you having a fire.

Community members who are negatively impacted by smoke from someone’s fire may voice their concerns via Access Fort Collins (www.fcgov.com/accessfortcollins) or the City’s Nuisance Hotline at 970-416-2200.

For non-emergency health and safety concerns, please contact the Fort Collins non-emergency dispatch line at 970-221-6540.

For emergencies, always call 9-1-1.

More information about the outdoor burning within city limits can be found at fcgov.com/woodsmoke.

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