Pitkin County Fire Restrictions & Burn Bans
➜ View the current Pitkin County status on the live map
BurnBound monitors official Pitkin 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 Pitkin 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 Pitkin 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.
Pitkin County's recorded statutory authority is C.R.S. § 30-15-401. To confirm current restrictions by phone, the county office on record is 970-379-3856.
Do Pitkin County restrictions apply on federal land?
Pitkin 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 Pitkin County sources
Fire protection districts in Pitkin 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 Pitkin 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: Colorado River Valley Field Office
- U.S. Forest Service: Aspen Ranger District, Holy Cross Ranger District, Leadville Ranger District, Sopris Ranger District
Pitkin County fire-restriction rules by stage
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions (Stage 1)
Prohibited:
- open fires outside designated grates
- fireworks
- smoking except in enclosed vehicle/building or cleared area
Allowed:
- campfires in designated fire grates in developed recreation sites
- fires in permanent fire pits or rings at residences
- propane fire pits
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: permitted
Stage 2 Fire Restrictions (Stage 2)
Prohibited:
- all open fires (campfires, charcoal grills, pellet grills/smokers, wood-burning stoves, open flame grills)
- fires in developed recreation sites, campgrounds, and on private property
- fireworks and devices creating fire/smoke/sparks
- off-road driving or parking in vegetated areas
- smoking except in enclosed vehicle/building or cleared outdoor urban area
- internal combustion equipment without spark arrester + cleared area + extinguisher
- welding/torch use outside cleared areas with extinguisher
Allowed:
- devices that turn on/off with a valve (propane or natural gas grills, stoves, lanterns, fire pits) used at least 10 feet from flammable materials
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: not permitted
Valve-controlled gas devices permitted at least 10 ft from flammables; the 'such as' list is illustrative — covers propane fire pits.
Source: Standing Stage 2 rules; Stage 2 in effect since 6/26/2026
Stage 3 / Area Closure (Closure)
Prohibited:
- all fires
- all ignition sources
- public access to closed areas (NFS/State/Open Space lands closed to all entry)
Propane fire pits: not permitted · Developed-campground fires: not permitted
Source: Standing Stage 3 rules — genuine area-closure semantics ('closed to all entry')
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 Pitkin County whenever one is published. See the full guide to Colorado fire restrictions for details, penalties, and propane specifics.