Notice: Stage 1 Fire Restrictions Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation Effective: June 17th , 2024 (Until rescinded or superseded)

Notice: Stage 1 Fire Restrictions
Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation
Effective: June 17th, 2024 (Until rescinded or superseded)

 

Stage 1-FIRE RESTRICTIONS AREAS FOLLOWS:

  1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, coal, or wood burning stove, any type of charcoal fueled broiler or open fire of any type in undeveloped areas.
  2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, in a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable vegetations.
  3. Using explosive material: (i.e., fireworks, blasting caps or any incendiary device which may result in the ignition of flammable material.)
  4. Welding, or operation acetylene or other similar torch with open flame.
  5. Operation or using any internal combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order meeting either;

A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Standard 5100-la: or
B. Appropriated Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended
Practice J335 and J350(a)

 

These restrictions reflect current wildland fire hazard condition on the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservations and are being implemented for public safety. The above restrictions will remain in effect until rescinded under authority of Ute Mountain Ute Trible Resolution. Personnel exempt from the above restrictions include Federal and Tribal employees, such as Tribal Resource Managers and Bureau of Indian Affairs Employees while in the performance of their official duties. These Restrictions will be enforced by the Branch of Law Enforcement Services under authority Title 18, ~ertions 1855 and 1856 USC, and Tribal Ordinance No. 3427, 1-9.

 


APPENDIX A


STAGE I AND STAGE II RESTRICTIONS


There will be two fire restriction stages: Stage I and Stage II. Stage III denotes area
closure. Each agency within a fire restriction area must write its own agency document that authorizes the restrictions within its jurisdiction. Each agency is responsible for using its own format, citing the specific Codes of Federal Regulation (CFR) and United States Code (U. S. C.) and having the appropriate legal counsel review the document to assure it is correct and enforceable. To establish consistency, reduce confusion and standardize restrictions, the following criteria will be used in all restriction documents:

 

STAGE I: The following acts are prohibited until further notice:

  1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, coal or wood burning stove, any type of charcoal fueled broiler or open fire of any type in undeveloped areas.
  2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, in a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable vegetation.
  3. Using explosive material: (i.e. fireworks, blasting caps or any incendiary device which may result in the ignition of flammable material.)
  4. Welding, or operating acetylene or other similar torch with open flame.
  5. Operating or using any internal combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order meeting either:

A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Standard 5100-la; or
B. Appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practice J335 (b) and J350 (a).

 

Possible Exemptions

  1. Persons with a written permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.
  2. Fires in constructed, permanent fire pits or fire grates within developed recreation sites.
  3. Any Federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
  4. Mechanical stoves and appliances fueled by bottled or liquid gas which allow the operator to control or extinguish the flame with a valve are permitted provided that such devices are approved by Underwriters Laboratory Inc.

 

STAGE II The following acts are prohibited until further notice:

  1.  Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, coal or wood burning stove, any type of charcoal fueled broiler or open fire of any type.
  2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building.
  3. Using explosive material: (i.e. fireworks, blasting caps or any incendiary device which may result in the ignition of flammable material.)
  4. Welding, or operating acetylene or other similar torch with open flame.
  5. Operating or using any internal combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order meeting either:
    • a. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Standard 5100-la; or
    • b. Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practice 1335 (b) and J350 (a).
  6. Operating a chainsaw without a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher of not less than 8 ounces capacity by weight, and one size O or larger round pointed shovel with an overall length of at least 36 inches. The extinguisher shall be with the chainsaw operator. The shovel may be kept with the fueling supplies but readily available.

 

Other possible restricted acts under Stage II

  1. Operating a motorized vehicle off designated roads and trails.
  2. Operating a chainsaw outside the hours of 5 :00 am and 11: 00 am.
  3. Overnight camping limited to listed campgrounds and recreation sites.
    (An attachment of designated sites would be included)

 

Possible Exemptions

  1. Persons with a written permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.
  2. Any Federal, State or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
  3. Mechanical stoves and appliances fueled by bottled or liquid gas which allow the operator to control and extinguish the flame with a valve are permitted provided that such devices are approved by Undetwriters Laboratory Inc.
  4. Owners or lessees ofland in the restricted area.
  5. Residents in the restricted area.

 

STAGE III Reservation Closure
The BIA in conjunction with the Tribe will determine threshold levels that substantiate the need for closures.

Examples include:

  • Potential loss of life due to explosive fire conditions.
  • Potential for extreme or blowup fire behavior.
  • Stage I or State JJ restrictions are not effective in reducing the number of human-caused fires.
  • Resources across the geographic area are at a critical shortage level.
  • Proximity to substantial population centers .
  • The extent of wildland-urban interface involved.

 


Appendix B
DEFINITIONS

The following definitions are to be used as part of, or referenced to, in the restrictions/closure documents that initiate and authorize a Stage I, Stage II, or Stage III Restriction:

Agency Administrators: The local authority of an office, i.e., Field Manager (BLM), Forest Supervisor (FS), BIA Superintendent, Tribal Chairpersons, etc.

Agency Executives: The Colorado-wide authority of a federal Agency or the Governor of Colorado.

Campfire: A fire, not within any building, mobile home, or living accommodation mounted on a vehicle, which is used for cooking, branding, personal warmth, lighting, ceremonial, or aesthetic purposes. Campfires are open fires, usually built on the ground, from native fuels or charcoal, including charcoal grills.

Chainsaw: A saw powered by an internal combustion engine, with cutting teeth linked in an endless chain.

Closure: The closing of an area to entry or use including designated roads and trails.

Designated Roads and Trails: Those roads and trails that are identified to the public by land management agencies.

Developed Recreation Site: An area that has been improved or developed for recreation. A developed recreation site is signed as a privately-owned commercial campground, tribal or agency-owned campground or picnic area.

Fire Danger Index – Very High: Energy Release Component and the 1000-hour fuel moistures are within the 90-96 percentile range of the weather stations within the geographical area.

Fire Danger Index – Extreme: Energy Release Component and the 1000-hour fuel moisture are greater than 97 percentile range of the weather stations within the geographical area.

Improved Site: An area that has been cleared and has an established fire banier that restricts fire spread. These areas also include improvements such as picnic tables and/or toilets

Local Area: One of the six geographic areas within the state of Colorado covered by an Inter-Agency Dispatch Center.

Motorized Equipment: Any equipment or vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine.

Patrol: One or more people who will travel through an area checking for and reporting fires discovered adjacent to and within the area and making public fire prevention contacts.

Permit: A written document issued by an authorized agency representative to specifically authorize an otherwise prohibited act.

Restriction: A limitation on an activity or use.