Wyo. Code R. 060-0002-9
Land Commissioners, Board of
Chapter 9: Governing Fire Danger Closures
Effective Date: 01/06/1997 to 05/18/2021
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 060.0002.9.01061997
Section 1. Authority. This chapter is promulgated under the authority of W.S. 35-9-303.
Section 2. Definitions. As used in this chapter:
(a) 'Closure' means the imposition of restrictions on, or prohibition of, designated activities within a defined area under the authority of W.S. 35-9-301.
(b) 'Unimproved areas' means cropland, agricultural land, and undeveloped land which predominately remains in its natural forested or range condition.
Section 3. Closure Orders. A board of county commissioners shall not order a closure of an area due to fire danger absent a proper showing by the county fire warden of evidence supporting the need for a closure. Closures shall be by written order which shall designate the exact area subject to the order, the activities restricted or prohibited, and the date the closure is to be implemented.
Section 4. Notification of State Forester. Whenever a board of county commissioners orders a closure of an area due to fire danger, the county fire warden shall immediately send a copy of the order to the State Forester.
Section 5. Implementation of Closure Orders. An order for full closure, as provided in subsection 8(b), shall not be implemented until fifteen days after the order has been sent to the State Forester. An order for partial closure, as provided in subsection 8(a), shall be implemented immediately upon execution of the order.
Section 6. Public Notification. The State Forester shall provide posters to be used to notify the public of full closure under this chapter. The State Forester shall cooperate with all relevant local, state, and federal agencies to ensure that the public is notified of the closure. The county fire warden shall post copies of any order in the courthouse, circulate copies to all local news media, and post copies in the area subject to the closure.
Section 7. Enforcement of Closure Orders. The State Forester shall cooperate with all relevant local, state, and federal agencies in operating check stations and patrols to enforce closure orders. All agencies shall bear their own costs.
Section 8. Restricted or Prohibited Activities. Closures may be either partial or full as provided below:
(a) Under a partial closure, discharge of fireworks and all outdoor fires are prohibited in unimproved areas, except as provided below:
(i) Trash or refuse fires between the hours of 6:00 pm and 8:00 am, inside containers provided with spark arresters and located within a cleared area ten feet in radius, are permitted.
(ii) Camp fires contained within an established fire ring at an established campground are permitted.
(iii) Charcoal fires within enclosed grills are permitted.
(iv) Use of acetylene cutting torches or electric arc welders in cleared areas ten feet in radius are permitted.
(v) Propane or open fire branding activities in cleared areas ten feet in radius are permitted.
(b) The following activities are restricted or prohibited under a full closure:
(i) Access to the area shall be by permit only.
(ii) All outdoor fires, including, but not limited to, trash fires, charcoal fires, acetylene torches, electric arc welders, grills fueled by any pressurized liquid, and propane burners, are prohibited.
(iii) Smoking shall be restricted to inside vehicles or buildings.
(iv) Fires within fireplaces and woodstoves without chimney or flue screens are prohibited.
(v) All motorized travel shall be restricted to developed roads.
(vi) Use of motorized equipment or tools shall be restricted to cleared areas ten feet in radius.
(vii) Discharge of fireworks is prohibited.
Section 9. Termination of Closure Orders. A board of county commissioners may terminate a closure by rescinding the closure order upon a proper showing of evidence by the county fire warden that the fire danger no longer warrants the closure order. The county fire warden shall immediately notify the State Forester if a closure order is terminated.
Section 10. Exemption from closure orders. The following persons are exempt from the restrictions imposed under full or partial closure:
(a) Any federal, state, or local officers engaged in fire, emergency, and law enforcement activities.
(b) Any member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force engaged in performance of an official duty.