By order of Sheriff Darren Weekly, Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in place for unincorporated areas of Douglas County. Ordinance No. O-012-004 restricts open fires, open burning, and the use of fireworks in the unincorporated areas of Douglas County.
Prohibited Activities:
Additional information on fire restrictions stages can be located at the Douglas County Emergency Management website. If you live in an incorporated part of Douglas County, please check with your municipality regarding current restrictions.
Smokey Bear Signs Within LFPD, we have strategically placed Smokey Bear signs at three locations:
These signs, indicating the current wildland fire danger rating, are crucial in keeping you informed and aware. The five rating levels used to describe the current wildland fire danger are:
Extreme (Red) - Fires will start and spread rapidly. Every fire start has the potential to become large. Expect extreme, erratic fire behavior. NO OUTDOOR BURNING SHOULD TAKE PLACE.
Very High (Orange) - Fires start quickly from all causes and may spread faster than suppression resources can travel, making control very difficult. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
High (Yellow) - Wildfires are likely. Control through direct attack may be difficult but possible, and mop-up will be required. Outdoor burning should be restricted to early morning and late evening hours.
Moderate (Blue) - There is the possibility of wildfires. Control is usually not difficult. Although controlled burning can be done without creating a hazard, routine caution should be taken.
Low (Green) - Fire starts are unlikely. Weather and fuel conditions will lead to slow fire spread, low intensity, and relatively easy extinguishment. Controlled burns can usually be conducted with reasonable safety.
Many components of fire science are involved in arriving at the danger rating. Examples are current weather conditions and forecasts, fuel moisture content, and fire behavior computer models, which help decide the danger level, fire prevention, preparedness, and response. Each day, the LFPD shift captain receives a notification from Douglas County’s remote automatic weather station in Franktown, informing them about the current fire danger. This and other information sources are used to determine that day's fire danger in LFPD. The Smokey Bear signs are updated accordingly.
Prohibited Activities:
- Open burning of any kind.
- Use of Fireworks.
- 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 that are permitted according to section 12-28-103 of the C.R.S.
- Fire suppression or fire department training fires.
- Small recreational fires at a 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.
Additional information on fire restrictions stages can be located at the Douglas County Emergency Management website. If you live in an incorporated part of Douglas County, please check with your municipality regarding current restrictions.
Smokey Bear Signs Within LFPD, we have strategically placed Smokey Bear signs at three locations:
- Larkspur Town Park
- Larkspur Elementary School
- Stone Canyon Outdoor Ad Ventures entry on Highway 105
These signs, indicating the current wildland fire danger rating, are crucial in keeping you informed and aware. The five rating levels used to describe the current wildland fire danger are:
Extreme (Red) - Fires will start and spread rapidly. Every fire start has the potential to become large. Expect extreme, erratic fire behavior. NO OUTDOOR BURNING SHOULD TAKE PLACE.
Very High (Orange) - Fires start quickly from all causes and may spread faster than suppression resources can travel, making control very difficult. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
High (Yellow) - Wildfires are likely. Control through direct attack may be difficult but possible, and mop-up will be required. Outdoor burning should be restricted to early morning and late evening hours.
Moderate (Blue) - There is the possibility of wildfires. Control is usually not difficult. Although controlled burning can be done without creating a hazard, routine caution should be taken.
Low (Green) - Fire starts are unlikely. Weather and fuel conditions will lead to slow fire spread, low intensity, and relatively easy extinguishment. Controlled burns can usually be conducted with reasonable safety.
Many components of fire science are involved in arriving at the danger rating. Examples are current weather conditions and forecasts, fuel moisture content, and fire behavior computer models, which help decide the danger level, fire prevention, preparedness, and response. Each day, the LFPD shift captain receives a notification from Douglas County’s remote automatic weather station in Franktown, informing them about the current fire danger. This and other information sources are used to determine that day's fire danger in LFPD. The Smokey Bear signs are updated accordingly.