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Larimer County advances zone-based fire restrictions, plans public map and 20‑person rapid‑response crew
Summary
At a Feb. 19 work session, Larimer County officials outlined a shift from countywide to zone-based fire restrictions tied to National Weather Service zones, a public GIS portal and alert system, and a mitigation-grant-funded 20-person initial-attack crew for April–October.
Kristen Stevens, chair of the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners, on Wednesday heard a proposal from the sheriff’s office to replace countywide fire restrictions with a zone-based system tied to National Weather Service fire‑weather zones.
Justin Weitzel, emergency services director for the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, described three zones—plains (below 6,000 feet), foothills (6,000–9,000 feet) and East Divide (above 9,000 feet)—and said the county would track the same fire indices it has used historically on a per‑zone basis. “What we’re looking at is a zone based approach,” Weitzel said, explaining the county will use station data and National Weather Service forecasts to trigger localized restrictions.
The county emphasized public outreach and tools to reduce confusion about boundaries that do not follow major roads. Weitzel said the sheriff’s office is building a public‑facing GIS portal that will let residents enter an address or GPS…
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