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KREMMLING, Colo. – The Kremmling Field Office reduced the size of the East Troublesome Fire emergency area closure today, opening previously closed BLM lands north of U.S. Highway 40 and west of Grand County Road 21.

The current closure encompasses all BLM-managed lands north of U.S. Highway 40 to the Arapaho National Forest boundary, east of Grand County Road 21, and west of U.S. Highway 34. Visitors can only drive approximately three miles north on Grand County Road 21 to the road closure. Beyond the road closure, access on the road and BLM-managed lands west of the road is by foot only. The interior of East Troublesome Fire continues to smolder, and incident response operations are ongoing with crews identifying and cooling hot spots and conducting suppression repair and emergency stabilization efforts. Visitors should expect to see firefighters and associated traffic in the area.

“The southwestern corner of the fire perimeter has been contained, reducing the threat to public safety and BLM public lands west of County Road 21,” said Kremmling Field Manager Bill Mills. “As a reminder to visitors, BLM public lands in Grand, Jackson, Larimer, and Summit counties are still in Stage 2 fire restrictions.”

Stage 2 fire restrictions prohibit the following activities:

1.     Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire 36 CFR 261.52(a). This includes charcoal grills and barbecues, coal and wood burning stoves and sheepherders’ stoves and includes use in developed camping and picnic grounds. EXCEPT: Devices using pressurized liquid or gas (stoves, grills, or lanterns) that include shut-off valves are permitted when used in an area at least three feet or more from flammable material such as grasses or pine needles.

2.     Smoking. 36 CFR 261.52(c) EXCEPT: Within enclosed vehicle, trailer, or building.

3.     Welding or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame. 36 CFR 261.52(i).

4.     Operating or using any internal combustion engine (e.g. chainsaw, generator, ATV) without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order meeting either: (a) Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Standard 5100-1a; or (b) Appropriate Society of automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practice J335(b) and J350(a). 36 CFR 261.52(j)

5.     Operating a chainsaw without an approved spark arresting device as described in Prohibition #4, a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher (8 oz. capacity by weight or larger and kept with the operator) and a round point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches readily available for use. 36 CFR 261.52(h).

6.     Using an explosive. 36 CFR 261.52(b). This includes but is not limited to fuses or blasting caps, fireworks, rockets, exploding targets, and tracers or incendiary. must be in the physical possession of the person or persons undertaking the exempted activities. 2. Any federal, state, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty is exempt from Prohibitions #1, #3, #4 and #5.

7.     Possessing or using a motor vehicle off established roads, motorized trails or established parking areas, except when parking in an area devoid or vegetation within 10 feet of the vehicle. 36 CFR 261.52

Since October 14, the East Troublesome Fire has scorched over 193,000 acres of National Forest, BLM, National Park, state, and private lands, becoming Colorado’s second-largest wildfire. A devastating day on October 22 added more than 100,000 acres, burning through communities along Colorado Highway 125 and U.S. Highway 34 near Grand Lake, destroying hundreds of private residences and secondary structures. The fire’s cause is under investigation. Additional information about the East Troublesome Fire is available online at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7242/.

- BLM -