Fire Information

There are no burn restrictions at this time.


Fire Ban Quick Guide 

Teller County Fire Ban Guide & Burn Restriction Infographic Guide: Teller County Sheriff serves as the County Fire Warden. Fire Bans are posted on the county and Sheriff's website. Check the USFS, BLM, City of Woodland Park and City of Cripple Creek websites for their current burn restrictions. No Burn permits/slash burning allowed under Orange Flag, Red Flag, Stage I Ban, Stage II Ban and Stage III Ban. Outdoor Fires are not allowed in Stage II & Stage III ban. Outdoor cooking is not allowed under Stage III Ban. Outdoor Smoking is not allowed under Stage I, II and III ban. Outdoor welding & torching no allowed under Stage II & III ban. Fireworks, Model Rockets and Explosives are not allowed under Orange & Red Flag, Stage I, II & III bans. Chainsaws are allowed but must have an approved fire extinguisher readily available under Stage I, II & III bans. A spark arrester and shove also need to be available under a Stage III ban. Recreational shooting is not allowed under a Stage III ban and explosive targets, tracer or incendiary rounds are never allowed. For more information visit the Teller county Sheriff or OEM website.

Know, listen, and follow emergency instructions! Stay informed and stay safe! In emergencies, understanding official terms is key. The Teller County Sheriff's Office uses consistent language for all alerts. Make sure you know these terms—they could save your life. Sign up for Peak Alerts to get notifications, and for non-English alerts, use ReachWell to select your language and add Peak Alerts.

Pre-Evacuation Warning

Public safety officials may issue a Pre-evacuation Warning for your area. This means that there is a high probability that you will be ordered to evacuate.


  • You need to act immediately to prepare to leave
  • If you need transportation assistance, arrange it now
  • If you need additional time to evacuate, get prepared to leave now
  • If you are in a Pre-evacuation Warning area, YOU DO NOT have to wait to be ordered to leave, get your things together, and get moving
  • Continue listening to local radio, television, or the official agency social media outlets for further instructions

Evacuation Warning

Public safety officials may issue an Evacuation Warning for your area. This means that there is an immediate threat to your life and you need to leave right now. It is critical to follow all directions from law enforcement to ensure you and your family evacuate safely. 


  • Do not delay, you must leave immediately
  • If you are not at your home when an Evacuation Warning is given, DO NOT try to go home
  • Continue listening to local radio, television, or the official agency social media outlets for further instructions

Shelter-in-Place

Public safety officials may advise you to shelter in place. This means that the best way to stay safe in an emergency is to get inside a building or vehicle.


  • Where you should stay can be different for different types of emergencies
  • Act quickly and with a purpose
  • Continue to listen to local radio, television, or the official agency social media outlets for further instruction

TELLER COUNTY ORANGE FLAG WARNING VS. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RED FLAG WARNING

  • Red Flag Warnings are issued by the National Weather Service when fire danger is extreme and a simple spark can cause a major wildfire. Outside burning of any kind is not recommended during Red Flag Warnings and Burn Permits will not be activated.
  • Orange Flag Warnings are issued by the Teller County Sheriff's Office, Office of Emergency Management, and/or the Local Fire Department instead of the National Weather Service. Burning of any kind is not recommended during Orange Flag Warnings and Burn Permits will not be activated.
  • Both warnings are issued based on considering the following factors: Winds, Temperatures, humidity, and fuel moisture.ORANGE VS RED FLAG INFOGRAPHIC

Burn Permit Information

Open Burning Permits

All persons must have a Teller County Sheriff’s Office Open Burning Permit for the burning of materials contained in an outdoor fireplace, barbecue grill, or pit and with a total fuel area of MORE THAN 3 feet (914mm) in diameter and/or MORE THAN 2 feet (610mm) in height.

You may complete the application below bring it to the Sheriff's Office along with the fee of $10 or come to the office and fill out an application in person.

Burn Permit Application (PDF)

Note: Burn permits are not active until payment is received and a permit number is assigned.

Physical Address:
11400 W. Highway 24
Divide, CO 80814


Open Fire Ban and Burn Permit Ordinance Information (Ordinance #17)