Section 33-15-106 - Fires(1) On any property under the control of the division, it is unlawful for any person to: (a) Start or maintain a fire if he or she knowingly or recklessly fails to reasonably attend the fire at all times or fails to thoroughly extinguish the fire before leaving the site;(b) Start, build, tend, or maintain a fire in violation of the provisions of any applicable order lawfully issued by a governmental authority that prohibits, bans, or regulates fires during periods of extreme fire hazard and that is designed to promote the safety of persons and property.(2)(a) Any person who violates subsection (1)(a) of this section commits a class 2 misdemeanor.(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2)(c) of this section, any person who violates subsection (1)(b) of this section is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.(c) Any person who knowingly violates paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section and who knows or reasonably should know that he or she violates any order described in such paragraph that prohibits, bans, or regulates fires commits a class 6 felony.(3) Any person who starts, builds, tends, or maintains a fire in a careless or reckless manner that indicates either a lack of due regard for the fire hazard present or a wanton and willful disregard for the safety of persons and property is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of one thousand dollars.(4) In addition to the penalties provided by this section, the court may require the defendant to reimburse the division for the costs of fire suppression in the case of wildfires.Amended by 2021 Ch. 462, § 598, eff. 3/1/2022.Amended by 2018 Ch. 57, § 2, eff. 7/1/2018.L. 84: Entire article added, p. 916, § 2, effective 1/1/1985. L. 95: Entire section amended, p. 969, § 10, effective July 1. L. 2002, 3rd Ex. Sess.: (2) amended, p. 39, § 6, effective July 17. L. 2018: (1)(a) and (2)(a) amended, (HB 18-1051), ch. 599, p. 599, § 2, effective July 1. L. 2021: (2)(a) and (2)(b) amended, (SB 21-271), ch. 3272, p. 3272, § 598, effective 3/1/2022.Section 803(2) of chapter 462 (SB 21-271), Session Laws of Colorado 2021, provides that the act changing this section applies to offenses committed on or after March 1, 2022.
2021 Ch. 462, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).