Rio Blanco County Fire Restrictions & Burn Bans
➜ View the current Rio Blanco County status on the live map
BurnBound monitors official Rio Blanco 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 Rio Blanco 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 Rio Blanco 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.
Rio Blanco County's recorded statutory authority is C.R.S. § 30-10-512. To confirm current restrictions by phone, the county office on record is 970-878-9600.
Do Rio Blanco County restrictions apply on federal land?
Rio Blanco 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 Rio Blanco County sources
Fire protection districts in Rio Blanco 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.
- Rangely Rural FPD
- Rio Blanco FPD
Federal & state lands overlapping Rio Blanco 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: Little Snake Field Office, White River Field Office
- U.S. Forest Service: Blanco Ranger District, Rifle Ranger District, Yampa Ranger District
Rio Blanco County fire-restriction rules by stage
Rio Blanco County publishes its restriction rules inside each order when one is issued — there is no standing rules page. The details below come from the most recent verified order; always check the current order text.
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions (Stage 1)
Prohibited:
- campfires outside agency-provided grates
- burn barrels or burn pits
- smoking except in designated areas
- chainsaws without required safety equipment
- welding without precautions
- exploding targets or illegal fireworks
Allowed:
- campfires in agency-provided fire grates at developed recreation sites
- devices using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel
- camp stoves
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: permitted
Stage 2 Fire Restrictions (Stage 2)
Prohibited:
- all wood or charcoal fires
- campfires
- propane fire pits
- charcoal grills
- smoking outdoors
Allowed:
- camp stoves
Propane fire pits: not permitted · Developed-campground fires: not permitted
No Fire Restrictions (Normal conditions (no restrictions declared))
Allowed:
- open burning with permit
- campfires in fire rings
- charcoal grills
- propane fire pits
- campground fires
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: permitted
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 Rio Blanco County whenever one is published. See the full guide to Colorado fire restrictions for details, penalties, and propane specifics.