Fires banned in Arapahoe County

AURORA | Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson announced a ban on open burning Tuesday, saying fire conditions in unincorporated parts of the county are extremely dangerous. 

The ban includes any outdoor fire such as a camp fire, outdoor wood-burning stoves and prescribed burns of fence lines or debris. 

All unincorporated areas of the county, as well as Cherry Creek State Park, are included in the ban.

Gas and charcoal grills are not included in the ban, Robinson said in a statement Tuesday. 

Tuesday’s announcement comes as fire crews west of Denver battle a wildfire near Golden that has grown to more than 1,200 acres, according to reports. 

Violations of the ban can result in a $500 fine for the first offense, $750 for a second offense and $1,000 for a third offense.  

Click below for Robinson’s statement. 

ARAPAHOE COUNTY SHERIFF IMPLEMENTS 

OPEN BURNING BAN 

Effective immediately, the Arapahoe County Sheriff has issued a ban on all open fires and 

open burning within Unincorporated Arapahoe County, to include the Cherry Creek State Park.  

The Open Burning Ban will remain in effect until such time as this order is formally rescinded 

or temporarily suspended by the Sheriff.  Arapahoe County Sheriff, Grayson Robinson, has 

determined that the existing conditions in Arapahoe County present an extreme danger for the 

possibility of wildfire and large wild-land fires.  The authority to implement the OPEN 

BURNING BAN within Unincorporated Arapahoe County is provided through Arapahoe County 

Ordinance 2000-02 and Colorado Revised Statute 30-10-512.  

Open fires or open burning shall be defined as any outdoor fire, including, but not limited to: 

campfires; warming fires; fires in outdoor wood-burning stoves (chimney sparks); and the 

prescribed burning of fence lines, fence rows, fields, farmlands, rangelands, wild lands, trash 

or debris.  

The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s OPEN BURNING BAN is enforced as a County Ordinance 

violation that, upon conviction, could result in fines of $500.00 for the first offense, $750.00 for 

a second offense, and $1,000 for a third and subsequent offenses.  

OPEN BURNING BAN EXCEPTIONS 

The following shall be exempt from the OPEN BURNING BAN:   

• Fires contained within liquid-fueled or gas stoves, fireplaces and wood-burning stoves 

within buildings. 

• Small charcoal or gas grill barbecues used for cooking or warming food, which do not 

produce open flames when used.   

• Fires set by any federal, state, or local officer, or member of a fire protection district in 

the performance of an official duty.   

• Public fireworks displays with adequate firefighting personnel and equipment assigned 

to be on the scene of such permitted public displays. 

The Arapahoe County Fire Ban is implemented as a result of discussions between Arapahoe 

County Sheriff Grayson Robinson, area Fire Chiefs and the Board of County Commissioners. 

For additional information contact Sheriff Grayson Robinson at 720.874.4165. 

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