El Paso County dropped from Stage II to Stage I fire restrictions at 1 p.m. on Friday, August 21, after nearly two months at the tighter level. The change brings back charcoal grills, pellet stoves and campfires in permanent grates across the unincorporated county. Open burning, fireworks and explosives stay prohibited at both stages.
Sheriff and Fire Warden Joseph Roybal lowered the county’s fire restrictions to Stage I on Friday afternoon, ending a Stage II order that had been in force since June 29. The order applies to all unincorporated areas of El Paso County and remains until modified under county Ordinance No. 22-001.
The Sheriff’s Office attributed the decision to a review of current fire danger, recent precipitation and the county’s Wildland Fire Restriction Evaluation Guidelines.
What the Step Down Changes
| Activity | Stage I — now | Stage II — until Aug. 21 |
|---|---|---|
| Campfires, charcoal, pellets | Permitted in permanent fire grates cleared 3 feet | Prohibited |
| Gas and liquid-fuel appliances | Cleared 3 feet, flames under 2 feet | Same, plus a shut-off or tip-over switch |
| Outdoor smoking | Also allowed in a cleared 3-foot area or developed site | Enclosed vehicle or building only |
| Outdoor welding | Cleared area | 30 feet, fire watch, extinguisher |
| Open burning | Banned; permits revoked | Banned; permits invalid |
| Fireworks and explosives | Banned, plus model rockets | Banned |
Source: El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Stage I and Stage II restriction texts, Ordinance No. 22-001. Graphic: The Monument Independent · monumentindependent.com
Three things loosen. Under Stage II the only fires permitted outdoors were those fueled by liquid fuel, propane or natural gas, and they had to be extinguishable by a switch, valve or tip-over device. Stage I restores solid fuel: charcoal grills, pellet stoves, chimineas and other fixed fireplaces burning clean wood or pellets, along with campfires in permanently constructed fire grates cleared three feet of flammable material. Rock rings do not count, because the order classes them as temporary.
Outdoor smoking returns under conditions. Stage II confined it to an enclosed vehicle or building. Stage I also permits it at a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet across that is barren or cleared. Welding gets simpler: Stage II required a 30-foot clearance, an established fire watch and an extinguisher or water supply on hand, where Stage I asks only that the work happen in an area cleared of vegetation.
Still Banned at Both Stages
Both stages ban the sale and use of fireworks, the use of explosives, and general open burning. Stage I revokes any open burn permit already issued; Stage II renders them invalid. Stage I separately prohibits launching model rockets. That distinction matters for anyone planning to clear a slash pile: a move to Stage I is not permission to burn.
Under Stage I
Still prohibited: general open burning · fireworks, sale and use · explosive targets and outdoor pyrotechnics · model rockets
Outdoor smoking: enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or a cleared area 3 feet across
Report a violation: 719-390-5555
Emergency notifications: Peak Alerts, El Paso–Teller County 911
The Sheriff’s Statement
While vegetation has responded well to recent moisture, fire season is far from over.
Sheriff and Fire Warden Joseph Roybal
“Recent rainfall and improving weather patterns across the Pikes Peak region have significantly reduced fire danger, allowing us to move from Stage II to Stage I Fire Restrictions,” Roybal said in a statement issued with the order. “This change reflects careful monitoring of local conditions and extensive coordination with our district fire chiefs.”
“Stage I Fire Restrictions remain in place because the potential for dangerous wildfires still exists,” he said. “Every resident and visitor plays a role in protecting our communities, open spaces, and natural resources by using caution with any activity capable of starting a fire.”
Who the Order Covers
The county order governs unincorporated El Paso County, which includes Woodmoor, Gleneagle and the land around Monument and Palmer Lake. The Sheriff’s Office advises residents inside town or city limits to check with their own jurisdiction.
For most of the Tri-Lakes the practical answer runs through the fire district. The Monument Fire District states on its burn regulations page that it follows El Paso County Sheriff guidelines on restrictions, and that no open burning is allowed when the county fire warden has declared a ban. The district’s own year-round rules sit on top of the county’s: campfires at least 25 feet from structures, cooking pits no wider than three feet with a screen and water on site, and bonfires pre-approved by the fire marshal.
Reminders Around the Tri-Lakes
The Woodmoor Improvement Association posted a notice the same day telling residents the Sheriff had lowered restrictions to Stage 1, linking the county’s Stage I infographic. The Sheriff’s Office asked residents and visitors to comply with the order and directed suspected violations to 719-390-5555. The Independent’s fire restrictions page tracks the county’s current stage and is checked automatically against the Sheriff’s own page.
Sources & further reading
The Independent’s own coverage: Monument Fire Restrictions, our standing tracker of the current county stage.
County record: Sheriff Roybal Downgrades Fire Restrictions for El Paso County to Stage I, Aug. 21, 2026 · Fire Information, current restrictions with the Stage I and Stage II texts · Ordinance No. 22-001, El Paso County Clerk to the Board.
Local: Monument Fire District burn regulations · Woodmoor Improvement Association, “Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are now in place,” Aug. 21, 2026.