Aspen Fire open burn season is now in place.

The open burn season will typically run from October 1st through May 30th  (depending on weather conditions). During this time, you may notice smoke in the air — this is normal and part of planned, controlled fire activity in the region.

The Aspen Fire Protection District allows permitted open burning within our district. The U.S. Forest Service may also conduct prescribed burns outside our district boundaries. However, smoke from both activities can impact the entire valley and areas over Independence Pass, depending on weather and wind conditions.

For those with respiratory conditions such as asthma or other breathing sensitivities, it is recommended to stay indoors with the windows and doors closed when smoke levels are elevated or if you begin to feel affected. For any fires outside of our jurisdiction, you may report air quality issues to CDPHE - Colorado.gov/AirQuality

Community members are also welcome to view our live wildfire cameras, which provide real-time visibility of conditions in the valley — we currently operate four cameras that display any smoke activity in the area.

Additionally, residents can download the Watch Duty app or visit www.watchduty.org to view current wildfires across the United States, including those near your area. This is also an excellent tool for monitoring air quality and particulate levels, especially for those with breathing concerns.

If a larger incident occurs or if smoke is expected to significantly impact the area, we will post updates on our website homepage and social media channels to keep the community informed. Please make sure you are signed up for Pitkin Alerts . The PitkinAlert notification system enables local officials to quickly provide you with information about emergencies and community news, such as severe weather, road closures, missing persons, and evacuations. You may select exactly which alerts you would like to receive by text message, phone call, email, and/or the Everbridge App. 

Thank you for your understanding and awareness during this important fire management season.