Office of Emergency Management

Gunnison County Community Wildfire Protection Plan

Click here to view the Gunnison County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (PDF).

STAGE I FIRE RESTRICTIONS; EFFECTIVE 5/21/2012

On 5/15/2012, the Gunnison County Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution #2012-14, a Resolution Implementing Stage I Fire Restrictions. These restrictions will go into effect on Monday, May 21, 2012 beginning at 12:01 am. Please click here for more information.

Be Fire Wise

Though many parts of the State are under some type of fire restrictions or outright bans, Gunnison County currently has neither of these in place. It is very dry in the Gunnison Basin, and extreme care should be exercised when using fire anywhere in the County – whether for burning weeds, slash piles or for camping. Make sure you have the appropriate fire suppression tools/supplies readily available when starting your fire. Also ensure that you have in place a suitable buffer between your fire and potential combustibles. Finally, make sure your fire is completely out prior to leaving the area. Your fire is your responsibility! Make sure you use it in a safe, responsible manner.

Some fire reminders: Gunnison County ordinance requires persons igniting controlled burns or open fires (excludes recreational campfires) in unincorporated parts of the County to contact the Gunnison Communications Center 641-8000 before starting.

Open fires are not permitted in the Town/City limits of Crested Butte and Gunnison. In Mt Crested Butte, open fires are only permitted in pits, barrels or similar containers.

Fireworks: Absolutely no fireworks of any type are permitted on Federal or State lands, including: National Forests, BLM lands, National Parks, State Forests, State Parks, State Wildlife areas, or Division of Wildlife owned lands.

In unincorporated Gunnison County, the Towns of Crested Butte and Mt Crested Butte and the City of Gunnison, fireworks that leave the ground or explode are prohibited.

Fire officials from local, State and Federal Agencies meet regularly to review the situation in Gunnison County, and will initiate appropriate measures when and if necessary.

For additional information, contact the appropriate agency: Gunnison Sheriff 641-1113; Gunnison Fire Marshal 641-8153; Crested Butte Fire Dept 349-5333; USFS/BLM 641-0471; National Park Service 641-2337; Colorado State Forest Service 641-6852; or Gunnison County Emergency Management 641-2481.

Wildfire Information

Montrose Interagency Fire Management Unit

Burn Ordinance

If you are going to burn ditches, fields, slash piles, leaves or other organic material, you must first call the Gunnison Communications Center at 641-8200, option 1. The dispatcher will advise you as to whether a Red Flag Warning (no burning) has been issued. If burning is permitted the dispatcher will ask for your name, address/location of the burn, and your phone number. You will be asked to call Gunnison Communications and advise them when the burn is out. Burning during a Red Flag Warning, failure to notify the Communications Center or leaving a fire unattended can result in a ticket being issued, and fines imposed. Either of these two situations also increases personal liability, should the fire get out of control and/or damage other property. Open burning is not permitted in the Towns of Crested Butte, Mt Crested Butte or the City of Gunnison. For further information in the Gunnison area, contact Fire Marshal Dennis Spritzer at 641-8153 or dennis@cityofgunnison-co.gov, and for the Crested Butte area, contact Crested Butte Fire Chief Ric Ems at 349-5333 or rems@crestedbutte.net.

If you plan on doing any type of open burning in Gunnison County, please observe and follow these guidelines:

1. Notify the Gunnison Communications Center at 641-8200, option 1. The dispatcher will need to know the location, size, and approximate start and finish times of the burn, as well as your phone number – preferably a cell phone. If a Red Flag Warning in effect or anticipated, the dispatcher will advise you of that, and you will not be allowed to burn. Failure to notify the Communications Center could result in the Fire Department arriving at your burn, should someone call it in as an actual fire. This could result in a summons and a fine up to $500.00
2. You will also be required to call Gunnison Communications and advise them when the burn is extinguished.
3. Plan your burn for the early morning hours, 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM, or later in the evening after 6:00 PM, when the winds are generally calmer. Check local weather conditions and forecasts prior to starting your burn, paying special attention to wind conditions.
4. Ensure that there is an adequate water supply, and that you can reach the perimeter of the burn area. Wet down and/or mow the perimeter of your burn area to keep the fire from getting out of the planned burn area.
5. If you are burning a large area, it is best to burn in small sections, lighting and maintaining only one section at a time.
6. It is always best to have someone help you with your burn – never burn alone. Ensure there are no structures, or vehicles within 50 feet of the burn area.
7. If your burn gets out of control, call 9-1-1 immediately. Any delay in calling 9-1-1 only causes the problem to get worse, potentially threatening lives and property.
8. Remember, if your burn gets out of control and damages others property, you could be held civilly liable, and possibly receive a summons with fines. Failure to notify Gunnison Communications of your burn, burning during a Red Flag Warning or leaving the burn unattended can also result in a summons and fines.
9. Open burning is not permitted in the Towns of Crested Butte, Mt Crested Butte or the City of Gunnison.
10. For further information in the Gunnison area, contact Gunnison Fire Marshal Dennis Spritzer at 641-8153 or dennis@cityofgunnison-co.gov and for the Crested Butte area, contact Crested Butte Fire Chief Ric Ems at 349-5333 or rems@crestedbutte.net.

Office Staff

Contact Information