CONEJOS — Due to the continued critical fire weather and atmospheric conditions, Conejos County Sheriff Garth Crowther has initiated Stage 2 fire restrictions for all unincorporated areas of Conejos County. 

Fires, campfires, charcoal grills, coal and wood burning stoves are prohibited including use in developed recreation sites. Devices using pressurized liquid or gas that include a shut-off valve and wood stoves used to heat a residence are allowed.  Smoking is allowed only within an enclosed vehicle, trailer or buildings where smoking is permitted.  Welding or operating acetylene or other torches with open flame is prohibited, unless it is within an enclosed building. Also prohibited are all explosives, including fireworks, exploding targets and tracers or incendiary ammunition.

Operating or using any internal combustion engine, such as a chainsaw, generator or all-terrain vehicle is only allowed with a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order meeting USDA Forest Service or SAE approval.

Additionally, chainsaw operators must have a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher and round point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches readily available for use.  The entire Stage 2 fire restrictions order may be viewed on the Rio Grande National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/riogrande.

For more information, call the Conejos County Sheriff’s Office at 719-376-2196.  This Order went into effect at 12:01 a.m. on May and will remain in force until rescinded.