Forest Service Lifts Fire Restrictions in Gilpin County

08/02/12 - 1700 - Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland Fire Restrictions Lifted www.fs.usda.gov/arp (August 2, 2012) – Stage I Fire Restrictions and related restrictions on discharging firearms were lifted this morning on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland (ARP). Recent moisture has changed fire conditions enough to lift the restrictions on the ARP. Visitors are reminded that conditions can change quickly so it is important to continue to be careful with every fire, and make sure campfires are completely out. Visitors are also encouraged to check the status of local county fire restrictions (currently there are no fire restrictions in Gilpin County) that may still be in place and affect campfires, shooting and other activities on the National Forests System lands. Recreational shooters are reminded that local closures and target restrictions are still in place. For more information about recreational shooting on the ARP visit: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/arp/targetshooting .

FIRE RESTRICITONS REMOVED

Effective at noon on July 31, 2012, the fire restrictions for Gilpin County have been removed. If you need further information, please call the Gilpin County Sheriff's Office at 303-582-1060 M-F 08:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or after hours call the Dispatch Office at 303-582-5500.

For Forest Service fire restrictions go to www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/arp/alerts-notices/?aid=11122

Modification to Stage 1 Fire Restrictions

July 17, 2012 - 4:00 p.m. - The Stage 1 Fire Restrictions have been modified to allow for the use of a charcoal grill at a private residence, however, fire pits are still banned. Please check the Gilpin County website at www.co.gilpin.co.us and click on the red box for complete details on current fire restrictions.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS MODIFIED

July 17, 2007 - Due to wet, cool weather conditions over the last few weeks, the fire restrictions for Gilpin County are being modified to Stage 1 restrictions. This modification is effective today, July 17, 2012 at 12:00 noon. For detailed fire restrictions click here:  co.gilpin.co.us

UPDATED FIRE RESTRICTIONS FOR GILPIN COUNTY

Revised July 9, 2012 – Gilpin County is still under Stage II fire restrictions, however, due to the wet, cool weather conditions over the last few days, these restrictions have been modified as follows: 


There is no open burning allowed of any kind anywhere in Gilpin County. This includes campfires, bonfires, slash piles, charcoal grills, regardless of location. Only liquid gas or propane fueled cooking stoves will be allowed for outdoor use. Pellet stoves, wood stoves and fireplaces ONLY INSIDE a residence may be used.

Gilpin County has restricted outdoor shooting under this revised Stage II Fire Restriction.

Under a Stage II Fire Restrictions the following acts are prohibited:

 Open fires, except when using a petroleum fueled stove, grill, or lantern in an area that has been cleared of all vegetation three feet on all sides.

 Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building unless exemption has been granted.

 No using explosive material: (i.e.: fireworks, blasting caps or any incendiary device which may result in the ignition of flammable material).

 No welding or operating acetylene or other similar torch outdoors that produces an open flame capable of igniting flammable material.

 Using any internal or external combustion engine without a properly working spark arresting device meeting USDA Forest Service Standard 5100-1a as amended or Appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J335(b) and J350(a).

 No use of any vehicle off road.

 Operating a chainsaw without an approved spark arrestor, and without a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher (not less than 8 oz. by weight and one size 0 or larger) and a round-point shovel with an overall length of at least 36 inches readily available. Must not operate a chainsaw out of the hours of 5:00 am and 11:00 am.

 No discharging a firearm outdoors. Law enforcement is exempt.

These restrictions will remain in place until further notice; depending on weather additional restrictions may be implemented. Please visit Gilpin County’s website at www.co.gilpin.co.us for the latest information on the fire restrictions. You may also contact the Sheriff’s Office at (303) 582-1060 with any questions and clarifications.

Information about other state and county fire restrictions can be found on Colorado Division of Emergency Management website at www.coemergency.com.

06/15/12 - 4:40 p.m. - Check the Gilpin County website at www.co.gilpin.co.us for the latest updates on fire restrictions.

06/15/12 - 2:10 p.m. - The structure fire on Lynnwood Lane has been extinguished. Fire crews are doing mop up. The fire did spread to a couple of trees but fire crews were able to quickly knock it down. The cabin was a summer cabin and was unoccupied at the time. Again the cause of the fire was confirmed to be a lightening strike. There were no injuries.

UPDATE: STRUCTURE FIRE ON LYNNWOOD LANE

06/15/12 - 1:33 P.M. - The structure fire on Lynnwood Lane is still burning but has been 100% contained. The evacuation warning for all residenst has been lifted. There were no injuries.

UPDATE - STRUCTURE FIRE ON LYNNWOOD LANE

06/15/12 - 12:57 At present time Timberline Fire, Central City Fire and Black Hawk Fire are on scene along with local law enforcement. Fire has not spread at this time. Weather conditions are overcast with light rain. The cause of the fire has been confirmed as a lightening strike.

STRUCTURE FIRE ON LYNNWOOD LANE

06/15/12 - 12:45 p.m. - There is a house fire on Lynnwood Lane off of Wedgwood Rd. in Gilpin County. ALL RESIDENTS WITHIN 1/2 MILE OF THIS LOCATION ARE BEING ADVISED TO MAKE PREPARATIONS AND BE READY TO EVACUATE.

June 12, 2012 - 4:15 p.m. - Due to the ongoing dry and windy weather conditions and the lack of resources because of other fires throughout Colorado, Gilpin County will be implementing Stage II Fire Restrictions effective today at 5:00 p.m.

SUMMARY:  There is NO OPEN BURNING of any kind allowed anywhere in Gilpin County. This includes camp fires, bon fires, slash piles, charcoal grills, etc., regardless of location. ONLY liquid gas or propane fueled cooking stoves will be allowed for outdoor use. NO use of pellet stoves. Use of firearms for recreational shooting is permitted with the following restrictions:  NO discharge of black powder/Pyrodex firearms; NO use of tracer ammunition; NO use of exploding targets;

The Stage II Fire Restrictions are as follows:

·         No building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, coal or wood burning stove, any type of charcoal fueled broiler or open fire of any type.

·         No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building.

·         No using explosive material: (ie: fireworks, blasting caps or any incendiary device which may result in the ignition of flammable material).

·         No welding or operating an acetylene or other similar torch with open flame.

·         No operating or using any internal combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order meeting either:

a.       Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Standard 5100-1a; or

b.      Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practice J335 (b) and J350 (a).

·         No operating a chainsaw without a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher of not less than 8 ounces capacity by weight, and one size 0, or larger, round pointed shovel with an overall length of at least 36 inches. The extinguisher shall be with the chainsaw operator. The shovel may be kept with the fueling supplies but readily available.

Other Possible Restricted Acts Under Stage II

·         Operating a motorized vehicle off designated roads and trails

·         Operating a chainsaw outside the hours of 5:00 am and 11:00 am

·         Overnight camping is limited to campgrounds and recreation sites (i.e., Reverend’s Ridge Campground, Aspen Meadows Campground, Kelly Dahl Campground, Columbine Campground, Cold Springs Campground, Dory Hill Campground, Pickle Gulch Campground, Central City KOA)

Possible Exemptions

        

·         Persons with a written permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission

·         Any Federal, State or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty

·         Mechanical stoves and appliances fueled by bottled or liquid gas which allow the operator to control and extinguish the flame with a valve are permitted provided that such devices are approved by Underwriters Laboratory Inc.

·         Owners or lessees of land in the restricted area

·         Resident in the restricted area

Update on Central City Street Collapse

May 26, 2012 - 3:15 p.m. - The sink hold on Gregory Street in Central City, CO is believed to have stabilized. It is approximately 30 feet in diameter and anywhere from 40 to 60 feet deep. Crews will begin reinforcing and filling in the hole within the hour. The Central City Public Works Department and the Department of Mine Reclamation will continue to monitor the situation for several days.

Central City Street Collapses

May 26, 2012 - 2:25 p.m. - At 8:00 a.m. the Gilpin County Sheriff's Office Dispatch received a report a street collapse in Central City, CO.  Several agencies responded including the Department of Mine Reclamation who has a crew on scene assessing the situation. The orignal size of the sink hole in the 400 block of Gregory Street, was reported at approximately 6 feet in diameter and has currently grown to 30 feet in diameter but has stopped collapsing at this point. Traffic on Gregory Street is being rerouted. It is believed that their is an old mine shaft below the location of the collapse.

SMOKE AND HAZE

05/26/12 9:50 a.m. The haze and smoke smell is not from a fire in Gilpin County. Fire and Sheriff's Office have investigated and found no fire. Weather service believes it may be from fired south of Gilpin County.

Fire Restrictions Still Active in Gilpin County

REMINDER: Fire Restrictions are still active in Gilpin County. For details on these restrictions, go to the Gilpin County Sheriff web page and click on the "Stage 1 Fire Restrictions" link. 
HAVE A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

Apex Valley Fire Update

The Apex Valley Fire is now 100% contained. Crews are working a few hot spots and will be monitoring the area over night. This will be the last update for this fire.

1/2 acre wildland ground fire on Apex Valley Road, approximately 3 miles NW of Black Hawk, CO. Heavy air tanker on standby. Central City Fire, Timberline Fire, Gilpin County Sheriff's Office on scene.

CRAWFORD GULCH FIRE CONTAINED

04/28/12 09:55 p.m. The Crawford Gulch fire is now 100% contained.

UPDATES ON CRAWFORD GULCH FIRE

For media inquiries please contact Deb Frazier, Parks and Wildlife Communications Manager at 303-514-8920.

Crawford Gulch Fire

04/28/12 4:10p.m. There is a fire in Crawford Gulch due west of the Golden Gate Parks Visitor Center. It is currently estimated at 1/2 acre in a rock outcropping. No structurs are in the immediate vicinity. A Reverse 911 notification has been launched for information only. There has been NO EVACUATION ORDER issued. It is advised that persons with special needs prepare in case of an evacuation. Persons with large livestock in the Reverse 911 launch area can call the Gilpin County Sheriffs Office at 303-582-5500 if they wish to evacuate their large livestock. This information will be updated as more information is available or as the situation changes.

CODE RED Emergency Notification System

With fire season here it is more important than ever that you register your telephone numbers with Gilpin County’s Code Red Emergency Notification System so you can be notified if an emergency affects the area you live in.

To register, go to the county’s website at http://co.gilpin.co.us and click on the Residential Emergency Notification link. If you don’t have access to a computer, you can call Vicki Nemec at 303-582-5214 to register. There is also a Code Red mobile application for Droids and IPhones – check the website for more information on this mobile app. From the web page you can also click on the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Emergency Updates link and sign up to follow the Sheriff’s Office Emergency Updates  on “Twitter” and the “Emergency Blog”.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS INSTITUTED IN GILPIN COUNTY

Due to the increased risk for fires in Gilpin County, the Gilpin County Sheriff's Office has instituted Stage 1 Fire Restrictions effective at 5:00 p.m., May 29, 2012. The restrictions are as follows:

• NO building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire* without a permit EXCEPT in a developed camp or picnic ground. The following actions ARE permitted:  petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns, or heating devices providing such devices meet the fire underwriters specifications for safety.
• NO smoking unless in 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 material. 
• NO operating of welding, acetylene, or other torches with an open flame.
• NO operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained, and in effective working order.

Exemptions:

• Person with a permit specifically authorizing the prohibited act or omission.
• Resident owners and leasers of land within the restricted area are exempt from above restrictions provided such fires are within the residence.
• Any federal, state or local officer or member of an organized firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

*A stove fire is defined as a campfire built inside an enclosed stove or grill, portable brazier, or a pressurized liquid or gas stove, including a space-heating device.

Information Update - Jefferson County Fire

The Gilpin County Animal Rescue Team (GCART) has been activated to assist Jefferson County with animal evacuations IN JEFFERSON COUNTY ONLY.

THERE IS NO FIRE THREAT TO GILPIN COUNTY RESIDENTS FROM THE JEFFERSON COUNTY FIRE.