The University of Colorado at Boulder and the Boulder Fire Department have teamed up to spread the word to incoming students that fire danger is still high throughout Colorado and students can help prevent wildfires from happening.
A flier prepared by the Boulder Fire Department has been distributed to returning students through packets to all residence hall occupants, with CU parking permits, through Recreation Center camping rentals, the Hill Stops program run by campus and Boulder police, the Sofa Swap event, the Off-Campus Student Housing Office and to all fraternities and sororities.
Last week, a campus e-memo promoting fire safety was sent from Chancellor Richard Byyny to all CU-Boulder student e-mail addresses. Those individual messages were followed with a Buff Bulletin message, an e-mailed grouping of campus communiqués on topics important to students. A second Buff Bulletin on fire safety will be sent to CU students this week.
The offices of CU Police Chief Jim Fadenrecht and the chancellor are placing ads in the Colorado Daily later this week reminding students of the statewide fire ban on open fires and the city of Boulder's similar ban on fires in city parks, open space properties and all public places in Boulder.Ìý
"We're trying to use every means possible to make sure CU students are aware that fire danger in Boulder and all of Colorado is still extremely high," Fadenrecht said. Careless use of cigarettes or ignoring the ban on open fires could have dire consequences because of tinder dry conditions, he said.
Sherry Kenyon, fire safety educator for the Boulder Fire Department, said the focus on educating students is aimed at making them as aware of the high fire danger as any other community member.
"We just want to make sure that all residents of Boulder have the best information available on the extreme fire danger -- especially those who have been away since May when it was green and are returning to the crispy dry conditions we have now," Kenyon said. "Whether you live in south Boulder, north Boulder or are a CU student, if you've been away you need to be updated on the conditions, the fire ban and the precautions that you need to take when outdoors."
Boulder's fire ban prohibits all open fires in public areas, including parks. The ban includes fire pits, charcoal grills, propane stoves and gas grills. Backyard, non-commercial grilling is not banned as long as fires are contained in grills.
Bonfires are considered "open burning" and are illegal in the city of Boulder at all times, whether or not a statewide fire ban is in effect. All fireworks also are banned throughout the state.
The fire ban also covers smoking. Smoking is not allowed on trails or in outdoor parks, and cigarettes are not to be thrown from car windows or onto grassy areas. Discarding of lighted cigarettes is considered littering and violators may be issued a summons.
The fire ban is being enforced by CU Police on campus property, by the state patrol on state and county highways and by Boulder police and code enforcement officers within the city of Boulder.
For more information contact Sherry Kenyon at the Boulder Fire Department at (303) 441-4355, CU-City Liaison Jaisy Jardine at (303) 441-4142 or CU Police Chief Jim Fadenrecht at (303) 492-7311.