County commissioners voted unanimously on Monday for a recommendation from Cortez Fire Protection District chief Jeff Vandevoorde to institute a fire ban for Montezuma County.

The commissioners put the following limitations into effect:

No open burns will be permitted within Montezuma County, including designated fire pits at legal campgrounds, Montezuma County deputy emergency manager Paul Hollar said.

Covered barbecue and charcoal grills or pits are permitted.

Outdoor fireplaces with screens or covers are also permitted, Hollar said.

Fireworks are explicitly banned, but the formal Cortez July 4 firework show is still scheduled under a controlled environment at this time, Hollar said.

“The ban is indefinite unless there’s a drastic change in the weather,” Hollar said. “We anticipate that this ban and the current conditions will last until late July and likely through the month of August.”

Reach Paige Blankenbuehler at paigeb@cortezjournal.com