Chaffee County Fire Restrictions & Burn Bans
➜ View the current Chaffee County status on the live map
BurnBound monitors official Chaffee County sources continuously and shows the current restriction status — alongside overlapping federal, state, and fire-district restrictions — on one color-coded map. Fire restrictions change quickly during Colorado's fire season, so always check the live map or the county's official channels before lighting any fire.
Who issues fire restrictions in Chaffee County?
In Colorado, county-level fire restrictions for unincorporated areas are typically enacted by the Board of County Commissioners or the County Sheriff under C.R.S. §30-15-401 and §30-10-512/513. Within Chaffee County, separate authorities can impose their own rules at the same time: fire protection districts (under C.R.S. Title 32), the U.S. Forest Service and BLM on federal land, Colorado Parks & Wildlife in state parks, and municipalities inside their town limits. That's why one spot on the map can carry several overlapping restrictions — BurnBound shows each one separately.
To confirm current restrictions by phone, the county office on record is 719-539-2596.
Do Chaffee County restrictions apply on federal land?
Chaffee County's fire restrictions extend to federal lands within the county. Where the U.S. Forest Service, BLM, or National Park Service also has an order in effect, the federal order governs on that federal ground.
Official Chaffee County sources
Fire protection districts in Chaffee County
Every Colorado fire protection district can set its own fire restrictions independently of the county (C.R.S. Title 32) — most align with the county, but always check the district covering your exact location on the live map.
Federal & state lands overlapping Chaffee County
These agencies set their own fire restrictions on the lands they manage inside the county — independent of any county order:
- Bureau of Land Management: Royal Gorge Field Office
- Colorado State Parks: Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
- U.S. Forest Service: Gunnison Ranger District, Leadville Ranger District, Salida Ranger District
Chaffee County fire-restriction rules by stage
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions (Stage 1)
Prohibited:
- open fires not in permanent grates
- portable fire pits on public land
Allowed:
- campfires in permanent constructed fire grates
- LP gas or liquid-fueled stoves with on/off
- charcoal grills at private residences
- campground fires in developed areas
- fireplaces within enclosed buildings with adequate spark-arresting screens on the flue
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: permitted
LP gas or liquid-fueled stoves and appliances with on/off control are exempt from Stage 1 restrictions. Source: Chaffee County Sheriff fire restrictions page.
Source: Sheriff standing rules page / Ordinance 2025-03 (adopted 2026-02-17)
Stage 2 Fire Restrictions (Stage 2)
Prohibited:
- all open fires
- campfires
- wood or charcoal fires
- fireworks
- smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building or in a 12-ft diameter cleared area
- portable fire pits
- welding, grinding metal, or torch use except within a 20-ft diameter area cleared of all flammable material
- chainsaws and combustion engines except with spark arrestor + 8-oz extinguisher + 36-in round-point shovel
Allowed:
- LP gas or liquid-fueled barbecue stoves with on/off
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: not permitted
LP gas or liquid-fueled barbecue stoves and appliances with on/off control are exempt from Stage 2. Source: Chaffee County Sheriff fire restrictions.
Source: Sheriff standing rules page / Ordinance 2025-03 (adopted 2026-02-17)
No Fire Restrictions (Normal conditions (no restrictions declared))
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: permitted
Rules content verified against primary sources on 2026-07-04.
Rules apply as written in each order — the county's current order always controls. This page never shows live status; check the live map for what is in effect right now.
Exact rules vary by jurisdiction and by order — the map's popup links the official order for Chaffee County whenever one is published. See the full guide to Colorado fire restrictions for details, penalties, and propane specifics.