For Immediate Release | June 24, 2021

Town of Avon Implements Stage II Fire Restrictions

Avon fireworks cancelled; Salute to the USA presented Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices will still be held on July 3rd featuring Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, concessions and a family fun zone!

Avon, CO – With Colorado facing extremely dangerous fire conditions, the Town of Avon, in collaboration with local fire authorities, has decided to enact “Stage II” fire restrictions effective Friday, June 25, 2021. Eagle County, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, White River National Forest have implemented the same restrictions. 

In addition, professional firework displays planned for July 3rd in Avon have been cancelled due to extreme fire conditions. However, minus the fireworks, the Independence Day celebration will continue as planned.

The Town of Avon would like to thank everyone for their compliance, and cooperation with our current fire restrictions.

Stage II Fire Restrictions Prohibit:

• Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire, charcoal grill, any type of charcoal fueled broiler, tiki torch, wood burning stove, sheepherders stove, or open fire of any type. These restrictions include developed camping and picnic grounds and private property. Fire devices using pressurized liquid or gas with shutoff valves are permitted when used in an area at least three feet or more from flammable material such as grasses, debris or pine needles. Fireplaces and wood burning stoves inside structures equipped with ember or spark arresters attached to chimneys are also exempted.
• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, trailer, building or tent;
• Using an explosive requiring fuse or blasting caps, fireworks, rockets, firearms, exploding targets and tracers or incendiary ammunition;
• Operating a chainsaw, cutoff saw, or any other mechanical equipment without an approved spark arrestor and without chemical pressurized fire extinguisher (8 oz. capability by weight or larger and kept with the operator) and without one “O” or larger round point shovel with an overall length of at least 36 inches that is readily available for use;
• Welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame (except with a current permit, contract or letter of authorization and the welding area must be barren or cleared of all flammable material for 10 feet on all sides of the equipment);
• Operating or using any internal combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order meeting either:
  1. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Standard 5100-1a; or
  2. Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practice J335(b) and J350(a).

• Persons with a permit or letter of authorization specifically authorizing the 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.

Additionally, EC Alert is the emergency alert system for Eagle County. Subscribers can elect to receive time-sensitive emergency messages to their phone, desktop and/or mobile device based on chosen alert areas and categories. Non-emergency messaging from EC Alerts, such as traffic alerts, area alerts, business alerts and red flag warnings are only sent via email and the Everbridge App. Emergency messaging such as gas leaks, evacuations and wildfires are sent via text, phone calls, email and the Everbridge App. Even if you have signed up in the past, residents are encouraged to verify their notification settings at www.ecalert.org.

Contact the Eagle River Fire Protection District at 970-748-9665 to determine the wildfire hazard in your area, and what can be done to reduce the hazard.
 
We want to remind our community, as well as visitors to the area, that they are our first line of defense in preventing wildland fires. Thank you everyone for doing your part to keep the Town of Avon safe and beautiful. We wish you a happy Independence Day holiday.

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