Fountain, CO Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)

010, adopted by Ordinance No. 1777 on June 27, 2022, defines a 'recreational fire' as an outdoor fire burning materials other than rubbish where the fuel is not contained in an incinerator, outdoor fireplace, portable outdoor fireplace, barbeque grill or barbeque pit, and has a total fuel area of three feet or less in diameter and two feet or less in height, used for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth or similar purposes. That dimensional cap is separate from the outdoor-cooking allowance for grills and barbecues.

020 restriction table then sets what is allowed for 'Outdoor fire at residence (recreational fire pits)' at each danger stage: under a Stage 1 restriction, a fire is allowed if it is contained within a liquid-fueled or gas-fueled stove, an indoor fireplace or wood-burning stove, or within a permanently constructed fire grate, charcoal grill or wood-burning stove in an outdoor area cleared of all combustibles, burning only dry, untreated wood or charcoal. Under the tighter Stage 2 restriction, only a fire contained within a gas-fueled (LPG or CNG) constructed recreational fire pit remains allowed; open wood or charcoal fire pits are cut off entirely. 050 layers in the same restriction automatically whenever the National Weather Service issues a red flag warning for the area.