A Red Flag Warning is in effect for all of Boulder County on Tuesday, June 30, as gusty winds, bone-dry air, and parched vegetation raise the risk that even a tiny spark could explode into a fast-moving wildfire. County officials and the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office are telling residents to scrap any plans for burning and to steer clear of anything that might kick off sparks. While the alert is active, open burning, including agricultural burns, is off the table.
Warning details and timing
The Denver/Boulder forecast office expects the Red Flag Warning to run from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. MDT on Tuesday. Forecasters are calling for southwest to west winds with gusts in the upper 20s to around 30 mph, paired with relative humidity dropping into the low teens. That combination can let any ignition race out of control, according to the National Weather Service Denver/Boulder.
County ban and the sheriff's message
Boulder County’s fire restriction rules automatically shut down open burning whenever the National Weather Service issues a Red Flag Warning, according to Boulder County. The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office drove the point home in a video post, stating that "open burning, including agricultural burning, is prohibited" while the alert is in effect. The office shared that reminder on its Facebook page, Boulder County Sheriff's Office.
Air quality and smoke concerns
State health officials are also sounding the alarm on smoke drifting in from regional fires, which is impacting air quality across the Front Range. An Air Quality Health Advisory is in place for the Denver–Boulder area. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment advises people with respiratory issues, older adults, and children to limit strenuous activity outside and to keep necessary medications close at hand while smoke lingers.
Legal consequences for burning
Under Boulder County’s fire ordinance, the sheriff and the Board of County Commissioners can shut down open fires during "High Danger" conditions and levy civil penalties on anyone who ignores the rules. As laid out in Ordinance 2023‑1, fines begin at $500 for a first offense and can reach $1,000 for repeat violations. Anyone who sparks a fire that requires an emergency response can also be billed for the cost of that response.
How residents can prepare
Officials are urging residents to cancel any planned burns, put off using chainsaws, welding equipment, or other tools that throw sparks, and clear dry, flammable debris away from structures. They recommend checking forecasts and local alerts before taking on outdoor projects. Residents can sign up for county emergency notifications through BoCoAlert, keep an evacuation plan and a go bag ready if they live in brushy or foothill neighborhoods, and call 911 immediately if they spot smoke or flames. That guidance is echoed by the National Weather Service.
With gusty and dry conditions on tap through the day, officials say this is not the moment for outdoor burning or spark-heavy projects. Keep pets and people with breathing issues indoors if smoke moves in, and stay tuned to county channels and NWS updates through Tuesday evening.
