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Vail to Enact Stage 2 Fire Restrictions; Cancels Fireworks

Post Date:06/24/2026 10:09 AM

Due to the high fire danger, the Town of Vail will join unincorporated Eagle County, the White River National Forest and the Upper Colorado River District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in entering Stage 2 fire restrictions beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, June 26. The decision to enact restrictions is based on specific moisture measurements in vegetation and other risk factors such as predicted weather and available resources. 

In addition, the Town of Vail will cancel its professional fireworks display planned for the Fourth of July. Vail Fire & Emergency Services personnel have been carefully monitoring conditions at the fireworks site on Vail Mountain as well as current and forecasted weather and wildfire conditions. “We trust our experts, and this is absolutely the right decision given the dry summer we’ve had,” said Mayor Barry Davis. “And while the fireworks may be missed, there will still be plenty to see and do in Vail over the Fourth of July weekend.” The decision follows previous Fourth of July fireworks cancellations by the town in 2021, 2018, 2012, 2006, 2002 and 1998, also due to extreme conditions. 

Officials in Vail are prepared to aggressively enforce fire restrictions and in particular the ban on personal fireworks, which includes sparklers, to ensure the community’s safety. All residents and guests are asked to familiarize themselves with the regulations outlined at www.vail.gov/fire-restrictions.  

Under Vail’s Stage 2 restrictions, the following is prohibited:  

  • Fireworks, including sparklers, which are always prohibited within town limits. 

  • Outdoor wood burning fires including campfires and bonfires, as well as the use of any wood burning appliance such as portable outdoor fireplaces, firepits or chimneys.  

  • The use of portable charcoal grills. 

  • The use of explosives including but not limited to blasting caps, rockets, exploding targets and tracer or incendiary ammunition. It is always illegal to discharge a firearm within town limits.  

Under Vail’s Stage 2 restrictions, the following is allowed: 

  • The use of gas grills and other gas appliances. The appliance must be equipped with a shut-off valve and used in an area at least three feet from combustible vegetation.  

  • The use of permanently attached charcoal grills on non-combustible surfaces at least 10 feet away from combustible vegetation. A metal can with a tight-fitting lid, as well as a garden hose, handheld extinguisher, dirt or water bucket should be readily available in proximity to the grill.  

  • The use of cooking smokers as long as they are equipped with an on/off switch. 

  • Outdoor smoking in designated areas that are hardscaped or paved and are well clear of combustible vegetation or materials. Cigarettes or other lit items should be disposed of in ash trays or cans.  

  • Outdoor equipment such as mowers, string trimmers and chainsaws in good working order and equipped with a spark arrestor.  

  • Outdoor hot work such as welding and grinding, but only as approved by the fire department. For outdoor hot work questions or approvals, email firerestrictions@vail.gov.  

The Town of Vail’s full fire code is available at https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/vailco/latest/vail_co/0-0-0-6834.   

Fire restrictions differ slightly across the county. For information on restrictions by area or jurisdiction, visit the following links:  

The last time the Town of Vail went into Stage 2 fire restrictions was in August of 2025. For more information, contact Wildland Battalion Chief Paul Cada at pcada@vail.gov or at 970-477-3475. 

Image of Vail with Vail Fire logo and text that reads Town of Vail Fire Restrictions Stage 2

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