COLORADO SPRINGS — According to a release, the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) has announced there will be a burn restriction order starting on Friday, April 17th at 12 p.m.
This includes at recreational fires, bonfires, open or prescribed burns, outdoor smoking at any city parks or open spaces. recreational fireworks/devices requiring ignition such as sparklers, snakes, aerials, comets, flares, flyers, fountains, missiles, mortars, spinners, punks, rockets, shells, etc. and trash/rubbish burning with the City of Colorado Springs.
The reason for the order is CSFD is following Governor Jared Polis' guidelines of saving frontline workers to help fight COVID-19.
CFSD goes onto say any large wildfires require an inter-agency response that relies on local, state, and federal cooperation and coordination.
Given the current strain on government resources due to COVID-19, any wildfire response would be diminished, which risks enabling a fire to grow and spread, which in turn requires even more resources for firefighting.
Violators of this Order shall be subject to the General Penalty provisions of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, sections 1.1.201 and 1.1.202, which may include punishments up to a $2,500 fine; imprisonment in jail, not to exceed 189 days; a sentence to probation; or a combination of a fine, imprisonment, or probation.
Fires caused in violation of this Order may be investigated as a misdemeanor or felony arson violations, which would subject violators to any penalties provided under Colorado State statutes.
For more information on the burn restriction order and what is and is not allowed, please click here.
