Press Release: Stage 1 Fire Restrictions Rescinded

03/01/2021: Through recent discussions and review of area fuel moistures, there is currently no longer a need for Fire Restrictions. At noon today March 1, 2021, in cooperation with our region partners, and to ensure consistent messaging for the local community, I am ordering that all Fire Restrictions are rescinded.

While we have had some recent moisture, conditions could still rapidly deteriorate as we move into the warmer seasons. Because of this, the members of the Pikes Peak Wildfire Preparedness Group will continue to meet weekly to discuss weather predictions, drought conditions, fuel moistures, personnel and equipment resources and fire activity throughout the region and the state.

Press Release: Stage 2 Fire Restrictions

Colorado and other western states are experiencing numerous wildland fires that are developing rapidly and producing extreme fire behaviors.  In Colorado today, there are currently three significant large fires.  These fires, and those further west, are increasingly taxing wildland firefighting resources.  The much welcome rainfall of recent weeks has not improved fuel moistures in our forests for the long term, and the monsoonal flow has been weak and predicted to be short lived.  In some areas of the state it has been nonexistent, which is evidenced by the recent fires.

At this time, I am ordering Stage 2 Fire Restrictions for the City of Manitou Springs effective immediately.  This order highlights the need for fire safety and caution during this time when resources are much needed to combat current incidents using precautions for the global pandemic.  This order includes the following restrictions:

Stage 2 Restrictions:

1.  Open Burning Ban, defined as the prohibited use of any outside fire. This includes all campfires and warming fires, all solid fuel burning fireplaces (e.g. fire pits, fire tables, and chimineas) and cooking appliances (e.g. charcoal BBQ grills, pellet smokers and BBQ grills).

   This ban excludes Liquid Propane (LP) fueled or gas fueled open flame cooking devices, (e.g. LP BBQ grills or camping stoves) with a 10’ separation from combustible materials, (clearance not applicable to single-family homes).  Additionally, this ban does not apply to compliant fireplaces and wood-burning stoves within private residences.

2. Outdoor Smoking Ban, defined as the prohibited use of any tobacco product or similar material in cigarettes, cigars, or pipes outdoors.  This excludes smoking in enclosed buildings or structures, and along Manitou Avenue.  Discarding of a lighted cigarette, cigar or pipe tobacco products is strictly prohibited.

3. Prohibited Sale and Use of Fireworks and explosives, defined as sale of any and all types of fireworks, and use of any explosives not limited to fireworks, fuses or blasting caps and rockets.

4. Dangerous Equipment Use, defined as the use or operation of any equipment outdoors that emits sparks (e.g. grinder, chain saw) or open flame (e.g. welding or operating an acetylene or other torch) without a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher equal to or exceeding a rating of 2A 10BC readily available to the operator.

As always, restrictions will be adjusted accordingly as fire danger and predicted weather conditions change.

Respectfully Submitted,

John K. Forsett, Fire Chief, City of Manitou Springs

Press Release: Stage 1 Fire Restrictions

March 24, 2020

Because of current and expected conditions, and because first responders are beginning to be taxed by the recent COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, I am ordering Stage 1 Fire Restrictions for the City of Manitou Springs effective immediately.  This order is consistent with actions that have or will be occurring with our regional partners, including El Paso County, and highlights the need for fire safety and caution during this time when resources from every sector of public safety are laser focused on preparation and response to the global pandemic.  This order is effective immediately and includes the following restrictions:

1.  Open Burning Ban, defined as the prohibited use of any outside fire, including campfires and warming fires.
   
   This current ban excludes fires in permanently constructed fire rings within the city’s RV and Camping Parks; and charcoal grills, and wood burning fireplaces, (chiminia) or fire pits with proper fitting screen covers and with a minimum of 15’ separation from structures or other combustible material at private residences.  None of these exclusions permit a total fuel area greater than 3 feet in diameter, and all must have a flame height of less than 2 feet.

2. Outdoor Smoking Ban, defined as the prohibited use of any tobacco product or similar material in cigarettes, cigars, or pipes outdoors.  This excludes smoking in enclosed buildings or structures, and along Manitou Avenue.  Discarding of a lighted cigarette, cigar or pipe tobacco products is strictly prohibited.  

These restrictions do not apply to gas-fueled grills used out-of-doors, or to fires within liquid-fueled or gas-fueled stoves.  Additionally, compliant fireplaces and wood-burning stoves within private residences are not included. 

As always, restrictions will be adjusted accordingly as fire danger and predicted weather conditions change. 

John K. Forsett, Fire Chief, City of Manitou Springs

UPDATED Press Release: Fire Restrictions Terminated

UPDATE 2018-07-26:

Mr. Mayor and Members of City Council,

Effective immediately, all Fire Restrictions are hereby terminated for the City of Manitou Springs.

Respectfully Submitted,

John K. Forsett, Fire Chief, City of Manitou Springs

Press Release: Burn Ban

UPDATED: JUNE 6, 2018

Mr. Mayor and Members of City Council,

In order to maintain consistency across the region as it pertains to the recognition and enforcement of fire restrictions and bans, and because weather patterns continue to make worse already extreme fire danger conditions, I am ordering the following Fire Ban for the City of Manitou Springs:

1. Open Burning Ban, defined as the prohibited use of any outside fire. This includes all campfires and warming fires, all solid fuel burning fireplaces (e.g. fire pits, fire tables, and chimineas) and cooking appliances (e.g. charcoal BBQ grills, smokers and pellet BBQ grills).

This ban excludes Liquid Propane (LP) fueled or gas fueled open flame cooking devices, (e.g. LP BBQ grills or camping stoves) with a 10’ separation from combustible materials, (clearance not applicable to single-family homes).

2. Outdoor Smoking Ban, defined as the prohibited use of any tobacco product or similar material in cigarettes, cigars, or pipes outdoors.  This excludes smoking in enclosed buildings or structures, and along Manitou Avenue. Discarding of a lighted cigarette, cigar or pipe tobacco products is strictly prohibited.  

These bans do not apply to compliant fireplaces and wood-burning stoves within private residences.

If weather patterns change the local outlook significantly one way or the other, Fire Ban will be adjusted accordingly.

John K. Forsett, Fire Chief, City of Manitou Springs

Press release: burn ban

Update: As of 04/04/2017, the burn ban has been lifted.

15-March-2017

Madam Mayor and Members of City Council,

Effective immediately, I am ordering the following Fire Restrictions for the City of Manitou Springs:

1.       Open Burning Ban, defined as the prohibited use of any outside fire, including camp fires and warming fires. 

This current ban excludes fires in permanently constructed fire rings within the city’s RV and Camping Parks; and charcoal grills, and wood burning fire places, (chiminia) or fire pits with proper fitting screen covers and with a minimum of 15’ separation from structures or other combustible material at private residences.  None of these exclusions permit a total fuel area greater than 3 feet in diameter, and all must have a flame height of less than 2 feet.

2.       Outdoor Smoking Ban, defined as the prohibited use of any tobacco product or similar material in cigarettes, cigars, or pipes outdoors.  This excludes smoking in enclosed buildings or structures, and along Manitou Avenue.  Discarding of a lighted cigarette, cigar or pipe tobacco products is strictly prohibited. 

These restrictions do not apply to gas-fueled grills used out-of-doors, or to fires within liquid-fueled or gas-fueled stoves.  Additionally, compliant fireplaces and wood-burning stoves within private residences are not included in the ban.

Current Wildland Fire predictive services for our area indicate continuing warm, dry and breezy conditions.  I have attached the Predictive Services Fire Weather/Danger Update from March 13th for your reference, and you can monitor these outlooks at;

http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive/outlooks/outlooks.htm .

While we can only control our city limits, it is my hope that these restrictions will enhance awareness of our citizens and visitors, and the message will carry far outside of our boundaries.  It is also my hope that El Paso County Sheriff’s Office will also soon imposed fire restrictions for all areas of unincorporated El Paso County in some similar manner.  Should the county impose a fire ban while this ban is in place, this ban may be adjusted to allow for consistency in management and compliance.

If weather patterns change the local outlook significantly one way or the other, Fire Restrictions will be adjusted accordingly.

Respectfully Submitted,

John K. Forsett, Fire Chief, City of Manitou Springs