When a burn ban is in place, issued by either Adams County  Sheriff or Arapahoe County Sheriff, the Fire District will enforce the most restrictive ban District-wide. When a burn ban is in place, no burning is allowed without a permit from your local fire authority, unless the activity is exempt.  There are cases where no burning can be approved, based on the level of the ban.

The open burn period is currently CLOSED. The burning period runs from April 1st - October 31st and requires a valid (current year only - not expired) and approved CDPHE permit to be obtained before open burning. Fire department notification and approval are also required for all burning activity, on the day of burning. Burning cannot be preapproved. Permit applications for 2025 can be submitted to CDPHE for approval beginning in the first quarter of 2025.

Current as of  NOVEMBER 12, 2024

If you need to perform an Open Burn of any kind within the Bennett-Watkins Fire Rescue service area, you must contact us before conducting the burning activity. Specially trained personnel consistently evaluate fire conditions throughout our District. While an area may visually seem safe to burn in, there may be unseen factors present that could initiate a dangerous situation.

Contact the Life Safety Division to assist in your planning, to ensure that your site and preparations are reviewed for safety, and that you have obtained a burn permit to ensure that your burn is a legal one. This also makes your job easier in that you have enlisted the aid of someone well-versed in the current state, county, and local ordinances. Many of these ordinances and fire weather conditions can change rapidly, and it's our responsibility to remain alert to these changes for our citizenry.

For information on obtaining burn permits, contact our Administrative Offices at (303) 644-3572 Monday through Friday from 8 am until 4 pm. If you would like to schedule an open burn and the administrative offices are closed, please contact our dispatch center, (720) 258-8911 and they will alert the on-duty crew to contact you. 
Below you will find State information on open burning:

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Air Pollution Control Division APCD-SS-B1
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, CO 80246

Phone: (303) 692-3204

Fax: (303) 782-0278