Ban Amended to Allow Propane Fire Pits; Outdoor Smoking and Welding Still Outlawed
Trevor Phipps
Despite a bombardment of online requests for rescinding the Stage 2 fire restrictions, which are now the toughest ban rules in the state, the Teller County commissioners are refusing to back down.
In fact, the stand taken by local elected leaders regarding this issue is much more restrictive than that of nearby counties and even certain forest areas.
Many comments posted on social media have encouraged campers to go to other counties, which have recently either downgraded or removed their fire restrictions.
At the same time, many residents have supported the actions of the commissioners, citing the extremely dry conditions. A number of civic leaders seem to think that it is better to be safe than sorry.
During their regular June 9 meeting, the commissioners agreed to pursue the safer route and keep the current Stage 2 fire restrictions in place until further notice. However, in one area of more flexibility, they did draft an amendment to the current ban, allowing propane fire pits with some stipulations.
The county commissioners opted to elevate the fire restrictions to Stage 2 last March, after multiple fires broke out in the Fort Carson area south of the county. Then dry weather conditions throughout the spring season persisted and the commissioners kept the elevated restrictions in place.
Stage 2 restrictions are among the toughest a county can impose, prior to shutting down recreation and public land areas.
Any time the county makes the decision to implement or remove fire restrictions, the commissioners get input from every fire department in the region. If the fire chiefs in each district say moisture levels are too low, then fire restrictions will be put in place or elevated. If they say that recent rains have increased moisture levels in the natural fuels, then they will recommend the county commissioners lower or remove the fire restrictions.
During their recent meeting, the commissioners invited Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell (who also serves as the county’s fire marshal) to give recommendations as to whether the fire restrictions should be removed or downgraded to Stage 1. Stage 1 is the initial level implemented during most fire bans.
Mikesell referred the decision to Kevin Tedesco who was recently promoted to the position as Chief Deputy. Tedesco is also the sole candidate running in the November election to fill Mikesell’s sheriff position in 2027, after Mikesell steps down due to term limits.
Tedesco told the commissioners that he didn’t feel comfortable in recommending a reduction in the current fire restrictions. “A lot of the fire districts are asking for a reduction to Stage 1 fire restrictions; however, only a portion of them have provided any evidence or science to support that reduction, some have and we are waiting on a few others,” Tedesco said at the county commissioners meeting. “The ones that have reported a reduction in danger due to increase in moisture are supportive of the reduction, but without having a total response I can’t get behind that reduction myself until we have the whole picture from all the districts.”
“I’m going to go with your recommendation, safety first,” County Commissioner Dan Williams said. However, the commissioners did agree to slightly amend the current Stage 2 fire restrictions.
Fire Ban Amended to Allow Propane-Powered Pits
Even though Tedesco chose not to recommend a reduction in the county’s current fire ban, he supports a plan to change the fire ban slightly to remove propane fire pits from the list of items not allowed. Tedesco said that since propane stoves, grills and lanterns are allowed, propane fire pits should also be permitted. He also noted that other neighboring counties do allow propane fire pits during a Stage 2 fire ban.
Tedesco explained that the fire ban is designed to outlaw open wood fires or charcoal. Anything that continues to burn poses a threat, noted the agency’s chief deputy. Propane powered grills and fire pits no longer burn after the fuel source is cut off.
The recently enacted resolution, though, will only change the fire ban that is currently in place.
The new rules now state that a propane fire pit can be used, if it is at least 10 feet away from combustible walls, roofs or any other combustible material. “And, have the ability to be turned off at the fuel source and do not leave any residual or lingering fire,” the fire restriction amendment states.
Therefore, the Stage 2 fire ban remains in place for now. This stage still bans all other forms of open burning and outlaws outdoor smoking. No campfires are allowed, under any circumstances, and smoking must be done inside a vehicle. Outdoor torching and welding are also not allowed, unless it is approved by the city or county. And using fireworks is a definite no-no, with stiff penalties.
The recent decision to maintain the Stage 2 restrictions makes Teller the only county in the state that still has this level of fire restrictions. Every county surrounding Teller has either removed their restrictions completely (like El Paso, Park, Douglas, and Jefferson counties) or reduced them to Stage 1 (like Fremont County). A map showing which Colorado counties have fire restrictions in place can be found at https://dfpc.colorado.gov/
