The City of Louisville has enacted Stage 1 fire restrictions throughout the City limits, prohibiting the following activities: 

• Building, maintaining, attending, or using an open fire, campfire, or stove fire on public lands, including charcoal barbecues and grills;
• Fireworks sales, use, and possession, including permissible fireworks;
• Shooting or discharge of firearms for recreational purposes on public lands except for hunting with a valid and current hunting license on public lands;
• Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials;
• Operating a chainsaw or other gas-powered equipment without a USDA or SAE-approved spark arrester properly installed and in effective working order, a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher kept with the operator and one round point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches readily available for use;
• Welding or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame except in cleared areas of at least 10 feet in diameter and in possession of a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher; and
• Using an explosive or doing any kind of blasting work, including but not limited to fuses, blasting caps, fireworks, rockets, exploding targets, tracers, and incendiary ammunition, except on private property. 

These fire restrictions are being implemented due to high fire danger, lack of moisture, and the forecast for unseasonably warm temperatures and extremely dry fuels. Data produced by the National Fire Danger Rating System and the National Weather Service is also used when determining if fire restrictions are needed for public safety. Fire restrictions will be in effect until the hazardous conditions have subsided. 

The City’s declaration follows Acting Boulder County Sheriff Carey Weinheimer’s move on Monday afternoon to enact Stage 1 fire restrictions for unincorporated areas of eastern Boulder County. For more information on which unincorporated areas are affected, and what it and is not allowed under Stage 1 fire restrictions, see Boulder County’s declaration.