Delta County Fire Restrictions & Burn Bans
➜ View the current Delta County status on the live map
BurnBound monitors official Delta 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 Delta 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 Delta 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.
Delta County's recorded statutory authority is C.R.S. § 30-15-401(1)(n.5) and (n.7). To confirm current restrictions by phone, the county office on record is 970-399-2955.
Do Delta County restrictions apply on federal land?
Delta County's order does not address federal land, so a county restriction may apply on federal ground within the county — verify with the sheriff or the managing agency. Federal agencies (USFS, BLM, NPS) also set their own rules on their land.
Official Delta County sources
Fire protection districts in Delta 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.
- Crawford FPD No. 5 (Crawford Volunteer Fire Department)
- Delta County FPD No. 1
- Delta County FPD No. 2 (Paonia Volunteer Fire Department)
- Delta County FPD No. 3
- Hotchkiss Fire District
Federal & state lands overlapping Delta 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: Grand Junction Field Office, Uncompahgre Field Office
- U.S. Forest Service: Grand Valley Ranger District, Paonia Ranger District
Delta County fire-restriction rules by stage
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions (Stage 1)
Prohibited:
- bonfires or campfires in rock rings or open burn pits
- open burning including agricultural fields, slash piles
- burning of trash or debris
- fireworks and explosive targets
- smoking in areas not cleared of flammable materials
Allowed:
- propane, gas, or pressurized liquid fuel devices with shut-off valve
- fires in permanent fire grates at designated campgrounds
- chainsaws with USDA/SAE spark arrestor, extinguisher, and shovel
- smoking in areas cleared 3 feet of flammable materials
- residential fire features (chiminea, tiki torches, gas fire pits) supervised by a responsible adult
- fires in a permanent fire pit/ring/BBQ grill at a private residence
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: permitted
Stage 2 Fire Restrictions (Stage 2)
Prohibited:
- all outdoor fires, campfires, and wood stove fires
- chimineas, charcoal grills, fire pits, tiki torches
- all agricultural and trash burning
- fireworks and explosive targets
- OHVs outside established roads/trails
- smoking outside in areas not cleared of combustibles / discarding lit butts from vehicles (permitted only in enclosed vehicle/building or 3-ft cleared area)
Allowed:
- propane, gas, or pressurized liquid fuel devices with shut-off valve (3-foot clearance)
- chainsaws with spark arrestor, extinguisher, and shovel
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: not permitted
Stage III Fire Restrictions (Closure)
Prohibited:
- public entry into closed areas (except permitted residents, officials, and emergency personnel)
Propane fire pits: not permitted · Developed-campground fires: not permitted
Source: Ordinance 2024-02 Stage III closure process (genuine area closure)
No Fire Restrictions (Normal conditions (no restrictions declared))
Prohibited:
- open burning without same-day notification to the Delta County Burn Line (970-399-2955) — required at all times, even with no restrictions
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: permitted
Source: County Fire Restrictions page — Burn Line requirement
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 Delta County whenever one is published. See the full guide to Colorado fire restrictions for details, penalties, and propane specifics.