Fire Restrictions
The City of Lone Tree is not currently under fire restrictions.
Even when fire restrictions are not in place, you are still encouraged to be cautious and mindful when conducting outside activities that may involve a fire and/or a spark.
Fire Restrictions were last enacted on April 21, 2022 and remained in effect until July 29, 2022. This page will be updated the next time fire restrictions are in place.
Open Burning Permits
On May 17, 2022, the Lone Tree City Council approved new permitting requirements for open burning, regardless of fire restriction status. You are not required to have a permit for most backyard fires, but permits are required for large fires (over 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high), and for burning things like trash or yard waste. More details can be found here.
What do the different "stages" mean?
Stage 1 Restrictions
Not Allowed:
- Use and sale of fireworks;
- Welding or the operation of torches with open flame in outdoor areas including public parks, greenbelts, open spaces and trail systems, without a permit, or adjacent to such areas;
- Operating or using any internal combustion engine (e.g., a chainsaw) without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained, and in effective working order;
- Operating any pest control equipment which relies upon the ignition of flammable gases or liquids; and
- Smokeless or safety flares used for the combustion of gases or used to indicate some danger to the public.
Allowed:
- Portable outdoor fireplaces and recreational fires contained in permanent fire pits (rock fire rings are considered temporary and not permanent) that are liquid-fueled or gas-fueled only;
- Fires within liquid-fueled or gas-fueled appliances, including grills and camp stoves; fireplaces within buildings; charcoal grill fires within developed residential or commercial areas; and fires within wood burning stoves;
- Permitted fires by persons with a permit specifically authorizing the prohibited act or omission, including permitted professional fireworks displays;
- Fire department training fires;
- Tiki torches at single-family residences and recreational fires at developed picnic or campground sites contained in permanent recreational fires or fire grates;
- Burning of explosive wastes by the manufacturer of explosives in areas zoned for industrial use, when the burning is supervised by a fire protection district; and
- Open fires or open burning by any federal, state or local officer or member of an organized fire protection district or department in the performance of official fire suppression function.
Violation of these fire restrictions are punishable by up to a $2,650.00 fine, and/or by imprisonment up to one year (Sec. 1-4-20).
Stage 2 Restrictions
Not Allowed:
- All Stage 1 fire prohibitions;
- Open burning of any kind;
- Use of fires in chimineas, portable outdoor fireplaces, or recreational fires which are not liquid- or gas-fueled; and
- Campfires at developed campgrounds or picnic areas.
Allowed:
- Portable outdoor fireplaces and recreational fires contained in fixed permanent fire pits that are liquid-fueled or gas-fueled;
- Fires within liquid-fueled or gas-fueled appliances, including grills and camp stoves (rock fire rings are considered temporary and not permanent);
- Charcoal grill fires within developed residential or commercial areas;
- Use of all fireplaces and wood burning stoves within buildings;
- Fire department training fires;
- Burning of explosive wastes by the manufacturer of explosives in areas zoned for industrial use, when the burning is supervised by a fire protection district; and
- Open fires or open burning by any federal, state, or local officer or member of an organized fire protection district or department in the performance of an official fire suppression function.
Violation of these fire restrictions are punishable by up to a $2,650.00 fine, and/or by imprisonment up to one year (Sec. 1-4-20).
City of Lone Tree Fire Restriction decisions are made through consultation with South Metro Fire Fire Rescue Authority and Douglas County, taking into account weather, fire and local conditions, suppression resources, and fire restrictions in neighboring communities.
For more information on Lone Tree fire restrictions, visit Sec. 7-5 of the Lone Tree Municipal Code.