Red Flag Warning in Eagle County Wednesday brings Stage 3 fire restrictions

Eagle County will be under a red flag warning on Wednesday, Aug. 13, from noon to 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

When a red flag warning occurs, heightened fire restrictions go into effect. Since Eagle County was already under stage 2 fire restrictions, the county will move to stage 3 fire restrictions during this period.

Stage 3 fire restrictions prohibit any activity that produces or maintains, or attempts to produce or maintain, sparks, flames, or any known ignition source for open fires, including but not limited to:

• Building, starting, maintaining, attending or using fires or flames of any type, including but not limited to, campfires; bonfires; fire pits; charcoal, propane and wood pellet grills; tiki torches or other torches; and fires contained within liquid or gas-fueled stoves, lanterns or heating devices, unless the specific device uses pressurized liquid or gas and includes a shut-off valve.
• Indoor fireplaces and wood-burning stoves without an approved interior and exterior spark arrestor
• Discharge or use of any kind of fireworks
• Use of floating sky lanterns, fire balloons or acetylene balloons
• Operating or using tools or equipment with an internal or external combustion engine, including, but not limited to, use of chainsaws and generators
• Smoking, except within an enclosed building, trailer or vehicle
• Welding, pipefitting, metal grinding or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame
• All outdoor recreational shooting
• Operation of all vehicles, including but not limited to motor vehicles, campers, RVs, motorbikes, motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles on any unimproved roadways and trails. For purposes of this restriction, “unimproved roadways and trails” shall include, but not be limited to 4-wheel drive and jeep roads, motorcycle and motorbike trails
• Parking on areas adjacent to improved or unimproved roadways and trails where grass or other flammable materials could come into contact with or be affected by use or operation of vehicles

Additionally, the area is under a fire weather watch from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Aug. 14 and 15 as dry thunderstorms and gusty winds are expected.