Burn restrictions are in place in Colorado Springs effective December 7, 2022 at noon. The burn restrictions will remain in place until recinded by the Colorado Springs Fire Department.
Under the burn restrictions, the following are PROHIBITED within the City of Colorado Springs
- Any type of fire, whether open or contained, on any UNDEVELOPED WILDLAND AREAS, brushy areas, or grassy areas
- Recreational fires
- Bonfires
- Open or prescribed burns
- Outdoor smoking in ALL CITY PARKS AND OPEN SPACES
- Small internal combustion engines operated without a properly installed, maintained, and functioning spark arrestor
- Recreational fireworks/devices requiring ignition such as sparklers, snakes, aerials, comets, flares, flyers, fountains, missiles, mortars, spinners, punks, rockets, shells, etc. (PROHIBITED AT ALL TIMES)
- Trash/rubbish burning (PROHIBITED AT ALL TIMES)
Under the burn restrictions, the following are ALLOWED within the City of Colorado Springs
- Select pyrotechnic or commercial activities WHEN PERMITTED by the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD)
- Hot work activities such as welding, brazing, blasting, or torching in forested or grassy areas WHEN PERMITTED by CSFD
- Outdoor smoking ONLY in designated areas and disposal of smoking materials is in a non-combustible container with a secured lid (SMOKING IS PROHIBITED IN ALL CITY OWNED PARKS AND OPEN SPACES)
- Model rockets WHEN PERMITTED by CSFD
- Outdoor fireplaces and outdoor appliances WITHIN DEVELOPED AREAS:
- Shall maintain a minimum clearance of 15’ between the fireplace or appliance and all combustible structures, fences, and/or vegetation (No clearance requirements for permanent outdoor fireplaces or appliances installed in accordance with the currently adopted International Mechanical Code)
- Shall ONLY be fueled by wood, pellets, charcoal, liquid propane gas (LPG), natural gas, or liquid fuel
- Shall utilize spark arrestors when fueled by wood, pellets, or charcoal
- Shall constantly be attended by a capable adult with a means of complete extinguishment
- Shall dispose of waste (residue from wood, pellets, or charcoal) in noncombustible containers with lids tightly secured
- Cooking devices intended for outdoor use WITHIN DEVELOPED AREAS:
- Shall maintain a minimum clearance of 15’ between the device and all combustible structures, fences, and/or vegetation (No clearance requirements for permanent outdoor cooking appliances installed in accordance with the currently adopted International Mechanical Code)
- Shall ONLY be fueled by wood, pellets, charcoal, liquid propane gas (LPG), natural gas, or liquid fuel
- Shall constantly be attended by a capable adult with a means of complete extinguishment
- Shall dispose of waste (residue from wood, pellets, or charcoal) in noncombustible containers with lids tightly secured
Download the burn restriction guide | Read the full Burn Restriction Order
Be COS Ready: Prepare for an emergency
COS Ready has three steps:
Step 1: Sign up for Alerts – Peak Alerts is a targeted phone notification system that tells community members what they need to know in an emergency.
Step 2: Know Your Zone – The city is now organized into more than 600 preidentified zones which helps first responders take decisive action in an incident. By knowing your zone, community members can be better informed when an emergency happens.
Step 3: Make a Plan – Before an emergency happens, you need to plan how to keep your family and pets safe, how to communicate with loved ones, and what items to have ready in case of an evacuation.