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Loveland
Fire Rescue Reminders for Burn Regulations
The
Bobcat fire of 2000 and recent drought issues
certainly have raised a new awareness for fire
safety in the area. This has translated to more
questions from local residents about open burning
regulations. Many of these come from concerns
about neighbors burning. Most complaints end up
requiring the Big Thompson Canyon Fire Department,
along with fire engines from the City of Loveland,
to respond and check out the problem.
Oftentimes these turn out to be illegal
trash burns, or slash burns that should have
required a permit to burn. One of the most common
answers that we hear from the person doing the
burning is, “I didn’t know I needed a
permit.”
I
would like to share with you some of the more
frequent questions that we are asked. Hopefully by
sharing this same information with everyone
regarding burn regulations, I can clear up any
misunderstandings, or perceptions about what you,
or your neighbor can or cannot do in regards to
open burning.
(Q)
I live in the county so I don’t need a
permit, right?
(A)
Open Burning rules are state wide and
enforced in cities and counties.
(Q)
How
much does a burn permit cost?
(A)
There is a $30.00 fee for a burn permit that is
issued that will give you enough time to get any
necessary burning completed.
(Q)
Is it OK to burn tree slash to keep my property
clear in case of a fire?
(A)
We do encourage residents to keep their
property clear of low branches, and other ground
cover to help make defensible space in case of a
fire. Disposal of this material is always a
problem; you can haul it away, or use the chipper
program when it is open. When these options are
not available, you can obtain an Open Burning
Permit from the Loveland Fire Prevention Office.
If your property is not located in our district,
you can obtain one from Larimer County Health
Department at 498-6775. Regardless, if you’re
planning to burn slash or other materials you need
a permit, Slash burning permits are only issued
from October through April.
(Q)
If I
use a burn barrel it’s not considered open
burning right?
(A)
Most burn barrels are used for one thing,
burning trash. Burning trash is prohibited by the
Larimer County Health Department and it is not
allowed in The Loveland Rural Fire Protection
District. Burn barrels have been responsible for
many complaints and some fires in the area.
(Q)
What are the rules for Open Burning?
(A)
I have copied our Open Burning Regulations
for your information. Please take a few minutes to
review these regulations. If you have questions
please call me and I will be happy to help you.
Open
Burning Outside Loveland City Limits:
Agricultural
Burning:
Burning is allowed for agricultural
purposes when the following criteria are
met:
Land must be in use as a Farm or Ranch as
defined by Colorado Revised Statutes.
Farm:
A parcel of land which is used to produce
agricultural products that originate from the
land’s productivity for the primary purpose of
obtaining a monetary profit. [CRS 39-1-102 (3.5)]
or
Ranch:
A parcel of land, which is used for grazing
livestock for the primary purpose of obtaining
monetary profit. For the purpose of this
subsection, “livestock” means domestic animals
which are used for food or animal consumption,
breeding, draft, or profit. [CRS 39-1-102 (13.5)]
The grazing and boarding of “pleasure horses”
does not qualify as a “ranching” use. [Palmer
v. Board of Equaliz., 957P2d 348, Colo. App. 1998]
or
A
parcel of land that consists of at least 40 acres,
that is used to produce tangible wood products
that originate from the productivity of such land
[CRS 39-1-102 (1.6)(a)(I)]
or
A
parcel of land that consists of at least 80 acres,
or of less than 80 acres if such parcel does not
contain any residential improvements, and
that is subject to a perpetual conservation
easement and has been classified by the tax
assessor as agricultural land. [CRS 39-1-102
(1.6)(A)(III)]
1.
Agricultural
burning is allowed in the Loveland Rural Fire
Protection District without a permit
provided the property meets the above definitions.
Owners must still call in to dispatch when
burning.
- Any burning over one acre in size, including
agricultural and all other burning, must have
a permit.
Larimer
County Rules of Burning Recognized by Loveland
Fire Rescue:
Ditch
Burning:
Exempt: When performed by ditch
companies for irrigation purposes, or meets the
farm or ranch definition for agricultural burning.
Recreational
/Cooking Fires:
Exempt: These
types of fires may not exceed a nominal size of 3
feet by 3feet. Fires larger than this will require
a permit.
Slash
Burning: These
restrictions will apply to all property North of
Highway 34 and West of County Road 27, and South
of Highway 34 and West of County Road 29. Slash
burning in the foothills and mountains should be
done during damp conditions or when good snow
cover exists. These burn permits are issued
between October 1 and April 1.
Safety
Guidelines: for permitted slash
burning
- Pile debris in open areas
away from standing timber and structures.
- Piles should be no larger
than 8 feet wide and 6 feet high.
- There must be a minimum of 3
inches of snow cover around piles.
- Winds should be less than 10
mph. Check the weather forecast to avoid
burning during high winds or extremely dry
conditions.
- Always have water, a rake and
a shovel available.
- Attend all fires until
completely out.
- All burning must be
extinguished by nightfall.
Safety
Guidelines: other permitted burns:
- Pile debris in open areas
away from standing timber and structures.
- Piles should be no larger
than 8 feet wide and 6 feet high.
- Winds should be less than 10
mph. Check the weather forecast to avoid
burning during high winds or extremely dry
conditions.
- Always have water, a rake and
a shovel available.
- Attend all fires until
completely out.
- All burning must be
extinguished by nightfall.
Prohibited
Materials:
- Routine yard and garden
clean-up waste
- Structures
- Construction debris
- Household garbage
- Materials that produce
excessive smoke (plastic, wire, tires, wet
grass, leaves, etc.)
- Commercial/Business waste
- Stumps
General
Regulations for Loveland Fire Rescue Department
Open Burning Permits:
- Call Loveland Communications at 962-2800 before
you start burning and once the fire is
completely out.
- Burning is not permitted when reasonable
alternative methods of disposal exist.
- All fires must be constantly attended by a
competent adult having extinguishing equipment
ready to use, and permit on site. All fires
must be completely extinguished prior to the
attendant leaving.
- Burning is not permitted during windy conditions
or when expected winds will exceed 10 miles
per hour.
- A minimum distance of 50 feet shall be maintained
between any fires and any structure or
combustible fence. Burning of ditches in the
City of Loveland or the Loveland Rural Fire
Protection District where the distancing is
unavailable can only be performed by or under
the supervision of a ditch company.
- No person shall burn upon the land of another
without permission of the owner thereof or his
agent.
- Burning shall only occur between sunrise and
sunset. Exceptions to this for recreational
burns or cooking fires, if granted, will be
written on the permit.
- Burning of rubber, tires, plastics, wire
insulation, and other smoke producing
materials will not be permitted.
- Failure to comply with the provisions of the
Loveland Fire Rescue Department open burning
regulations is punishable under Article 11 of
the Uniform Fire Code and the Colorado Revised
Statutes 25-7-123(3), which sets fines up to
$100 per day.
With
everyone’s help, we can keep our community fire
safe. Thank you for your time!
Sincerely,
Tim Haag
Fire
Marshal
City of
Loveland
Loveland
Rural Fire Protection District |
