Adams County amends burn ban to allow small contained fires with safety conditions

Adams County commissioners on a motion amended Ordinance 2024‑20 to permit small fires that are contained in a fire ring or burn barrel, provided the fires are attended at all times and a water source is available within 15 feet to extinguish the blaze if necessary.

The change, introduced by county staff as an amendment to the existing open‑burn ban, was debated at length. The sheriff and local fire chiefs urged a narrowly tailored modification so residents could safely have campfires at their homes while protecting the county from more dangerous open burns. One speaker representing fire leadership told commissioners the chiefs were "in agreement" with allowing attended small fires with a nearby water source.

Opponents and some commissioners cautioned that allowing paper or cardboard to be burned could create drifting embers that ignite vegetation and farms; commissioners worked through language to avoid broad loopholes. The final amendment reads, in essence, that "small fires contained in a fire ring or burn barrel are permitted if attended at all times and a water source is available within 15 feet." The board directed staff to prepare a printed statement of the exact wording for public communication.

A motion to amend the ordinance was seconded and carried during the meeting. Commissioners also agreed to keep consideration of continuing or repealing the burn ban as a standing agenda item so the body can revisit the restriction weekly based on changing conditions.

Next steps: staff will publish the precise amended ordinance language and the chair will make that available to the public, and the board retained discretion to re‑impose or repeal the ban in future meetings depending on conditions and fire‑risk advisories.