Johnson County Amends Fire Restrictions

Johnson County’s Commissioners voted to amend their recently-enacted partial fire restrictions during their meeting Tuesday.

Although it isn’t a huge change, it does affect some restrictions implemented in the county in June concerning the discharge of fireworks and all outdoor fires: campfires at residences or campsites; trash or refuse fires; charcoal fires; the use of acetylene cutting, electric arc welders, or metal grinding; and the use of portable stoves and lanterns.

The major change is the requirement to clear an area with a minimum of a 15-foot cleared radius of burnable materials for these activities as opposed to a ten-foot radius as in the previous Resolution.

The amended Resolution with the restrictions is listed here:

RESOLUTION NO. ______

PARTIAL FIRE RESTRICTION

WHEREAS, the danger from forest and range fires on state and private lands within Johnson County has reached an extreme point; and

WHEREAS, the Johnson County Fire Warden, has recommended, and the Board of Johnson County Commissioners has unanimously recognized the necessity for fire control measures in Johnson County; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Wyoming Statute § 35-9-301, the Board of Johnson County Commissioners are hereby duly authorized to close any or all state and private lands within their respective County to open fires or other uses which constitute a serious threat of forest or range fire;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that pursuant to Wyoming Statute § 35-9-301 that the Board of Johnson County Commissioners hereby declares that fires and open flames shall be allowed in improved areas only within the following parameters:

1. Discharge of fireworks and all outdoor fires are prohibited in unimproved areas, as provide in 8(a)(b)(c).

1. Only campfires at residences or campsites, within a fire ring centered within a minimum of a 15ft. cleared radius of burnable materials.

1. Trash or refuse fires between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., inside containers provided with spark arresters and located within a cleared radius of a minimum of 15ft. of burnable materials.

1. Charcoal fires within enclosed grills are permitted.

1. Use of acetylene cutting, electric arc welders, or metal grinding in a cleared radius of 15ft. of burnable materials.

1. The use of portable stoves, lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum, pressurized liquid fuel or fully enclosed (sheepherder type) stove and open fire branding activities in a cleared radius of 15ft of burnable materials is permitted.

1. Any individual responsible for man-made fires shall be held accountable for any and all suppression costs.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the area of said fire control measures shall include all state and private properties within Johnson County except land located within incorporated areas, the forest service boundaries, or those managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which shall be subject to any rules or regulations regarding fire restrictions as imposed by the U.S. Forest Service, BLM, or the incorporated municipalities.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that pursuant to Wyoming Statute § 35-9-304, any person violating this resolution on state or private properties that fall under the jurisdiction of Johnson County shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00) or imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed thirty (30) days or both such fine and imprisonment.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution shall become effective as of June 15, 2021 and shall remain in effect until such time as it may be amended or rescinded by Board action.

Dated this _____ day of ____________, 2021.

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

JOHNSON COUNTY, WYOMING

____________________________________

William Novotny, III, Chairman

ATTEST:

____________________

Vicki Edelman

Johnson County Clerk