For Immediate Release | April 14, 2020

Town of Avon Implements Stage 1 Fire Restrictions

Avon, CO – Avon Town Manager Eric Heil, in collaboration with Eagle County Sheriff James Van Beek, Eagle River Fire Chief Karl Bauer, the United States Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management has implemented “Stage 1” fire restrictions effective immediately prohibiting all open burning on private lands within the Town of Avon. The underlying reasons for enacting these fire restrictions are as follows:

To protect public health and safety while first responder emergency resources are focused on responding to the current COVID-19 pandemic
To protect high risk individuals who are struggling with respiratory related illness due to the COVID-19 virus
Although we are experiencing seasonal weather conditions including snow, we have also experienced recent warm conditions with high winds which have already contributed to two small Wildland Urban Interface wildfires in the west of Eagle County.

The Town of Avon will be enforcing the following temporary restrictions:

Any fires that are not within a permanently constructed firepit, ring or grate on PUBLIC or PRIVATE land
Any fires contained within portable devices (chimeneas, grills, tiki torches WITH NO SHUT OFF VALVE) on undeveloped lands
No smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or in a barren area free of vegetation
No use of explosive materials, including explosive targets or incendiary (tracer) rounds
No welding or operation of an acetylene or other similar torch with open flame, or any other spark producing device, except from an area that has been cleared of vegetation
No operation of any internal combustion engine without a spark arrestive device properly installed and in working order
No personal use of fireworks in the Town of Avon or West Avon Preserve.

A violation of Town of Avon Ordinance 8.16.030- Severe wildfire conditions fire restrictions, shall be fined in the sum of not more than two thousand six hundred fifty dollars ($2,650) or imprisonment not to exceed one (1) year, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each day an offense continues shall constitute a separate offense.

Here is the link to the United States Forest Service fire restriction Order #: R2-2020-02

A violation of the prohibitions in this Federal Order is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both (16 U.S.C. § 551 and 18 U.S.C §§ 3559 and 3571). Those found responsible for starting wildfires will also face restitution costs of suppressing the fire.

Due to the general risk for wildland fires, the Town of Avon would like to again encourage residents to prepare “defensible space” around your home that will increase the chances that your home may survive a wildfire. Create defensible space of at least 30 ft. using the following recommendations:

Trimming and pruning branches to 10 ft. above the ground
Thinning tree and brush cover
Removing dead limbs and other litter
Maintaining an irrigated greenbelt
Mowing dry grasses and weeds
Cleaning your roof and gutters

Please contact the Avon Police Department at (970) 748-4040 with any questions.

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