Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners approve first reading of stricter open-burning ordinance
Summary
The county approved first reading of Ordinance 2025-03 to restrict open fires and burning in unincorporated Chaffee County with amendments requested by fire agencies; the ordinance aims to balance agricultural needs with wildfire risk reduction.
The Chaffee County Board of Commissioners voted to approve, on first reading, an ordinance to restrict open fires and open burning in unincorporated county areas and to provide penalties for violations.
Sheriff Fort and local fire chiefs worked with county staff to draft the ordinance. Sheriff Fort described the law as "antiquated" in placing the sheriff as the fire warden and said the team sought a balance between enhanced public-safety protections and allowing necessary agricultural burning. Fire district leaders and staff proposed two technical amendments that the sheriff and county staff supported prior to second reading. Commissioners emphasized the need to clearly delineate duties, preserve agricultural exemptions where required, and improve consistency with fire-district operational needs.
Commissioner 3 moved to approve the first reading with the amendments suggested by chiefs; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. Staff will incorporate the agreed amendments for a clean copy to be considered at second reading, and the ordinance timing aligned with an imminent county open-fire ban due to forecasted high winds and dry conditions.
