Castle Rock lifts Stage 1 fire restrictions after recent moisture
Castle Rock has dropped Stage 1 fire restrictions after recent moisture eased wildfire danger, but officials warned the relief could be temporary if conditions dry out again.
Castle Rock has lifted Stage 1 fire restrictions, giving residents and businesses a broader green light for summer yard work, outdoor gatherings and other warm-weather plans after recent and forecast moisture, along with cooler temperatures, eased wildfire danger.
Town Manager David L. Corliss and Castle Rock Fire and Rescue Chief Norris W. Croom III rescinded the restrictions on June 2 under authority granted by Town Council. The rules had been in place since Dec. 15, 2025, and their removal marks a meaningful shift for a town that has spent much of the past year balancing dry conditions, growth and wildfire awareness.
The practical change is immediate. Under the Stage 1 rules that had been in place, open burning and personal fireworks were prohibited, while fireplaces inside buildings were allowed. With the restrictions now lifted, those outdoor bans are no longer active for the moment. Castle Rock officials, however, were careful not to frame the decision as an end to wildfire risk. Fire and Rescue said it will keep monitoring conditions closely and can reinstate restrictions if weather or fuel conditions worsen again.
That caution reflects how quickly conditions can change in Douglas County. Castle Rock’s fire restrictions page says the town and Douglas County both enact fire restrictions during periods of high or extreme fire danger. The town’s wildfire safety materials point residents to a 2022 Community Wildfire Protection Plan and an interactive wildfire hazard zone map, underscoring that wildfire planning remains part of everyday local preparation, not just a response to emergencies.
Castle Rock Fire and Rescue also remains the lead emergency management agency for the town, with the fire chief serving as the town emergency manager. That role has taken on added visibility as the town has leaned more heavily on real-time alerts. DougCoAlert launched in January 2026, replacing the older CodeRED system and expanding emergency notifications, including wildfire-related alerts, across Castle Rock, Lone Tree, Parker and unincorporated Douglas County.
For now, the message is simple: Castle Rock is out of Stage 1 restrictions, but not out of wildfire season. If the weather turns hotter, drier or windier, the town has already signaled it is ready to act quickly again.
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