Nederland firefighter Bretlyn Schmidtmann is overcome with emotion as she tries to find remains of her St. Bernard Geno amid the rubble of her burned down house on July 12, 2016 in Nederland.
Leaving a campfire unattended in Colorado could have more serious consequences under a bill that passed the Democratic-controlled House on Wednesday as lawmakers work to prevent a leading — and preventable — cause of wildfires.
would change the crime of leaving a campfire unattended in any grasslands or forests from a Class 2 petty offense to a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Under current law, violators face a $50 fine. If the legislation passes the Republican-controlled Senate, the new penalty would be a fine ranging from $50 to $750, a maximum of six months in jail or both.
The bill passed the House 60-1, with four state representatives excused.
“This legislation is an essential tool in the fight against devastating wildfires that cause significant property, economic and environmental damage to our beautiful forests,” said Rep. Millie Hamner, D-Dillon, who sponsored the bill alongside Rep. Terri Carver, R-Colorado Springs. “Wildfires also endanger our communities, and we should be doing everything we can to prevent them.”
Legislative analysts say Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials have issued 24 citations over the past three years for leaving a campfire unattended.
NEDERLAND, CO - JULY 12: A burned 2001 Porsche 996 c4, right, and a 1974 Ford Bronco, left, two of the many destroyed vehicles on the property, are a complete loss at the Schmidtmann home on July 12, 2016 in Nederland, Colorado. Charlie Schmidtmann and his wife Bretlyn, both firefighters with the Nederland Fire Department, lost everything in the Cold Springs Fire including their beloved St. Bernard Geno. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the couple as they begin to rebuild their lives. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
NEDERLAND, CO - JULY 12: Insurance adjustor Pablo Jimenez, of Liberty Mutual Insurance, takes measurments as he tallies property damage of what remains of the Schmidtmann's home on July 12, 2016 in Nederland, Colorado. Charlie Schmidtmann and his wife Bretlyn, both firefighters with the Nederland Fire Department, lost everything in the Cold Springs Fire including their beloved St. Bernard Geno. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the couple as they begin to rebuild their lives. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
NEDERLAND, CO - JULY 11: Hot shot crews put our hotspots along Ridge Road as the Cold Springs Fire continues to burn northeast of Nederland on July 11, 2016 in Nederland, Colorado. Officials say there is currently 0% containment and the fire stands at 606 acres. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
NEDERLAND, CO - JULY 12: Nederland firefighter Bretlyn Schmidtmann, walks through the burned forest on her property on July 12, 2016 in Nederland, Colorado. Bretlyn and her husband Charlie lost everything in the Cold Springs Fire including their beloved St. Bernard Geno. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the couple as they begin to rebuild their lives. She is wearing wildland firefighting personal protective gear because the fire is still an active fire and the house is still smoldering from the fire. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
NEDERLAND, CO - JULY 12: Nederland firefighter Bretlyn Schmidtmann, tries to find remnants, such as a collar or tag, of her St. Bernard Geno where she thought he might have been in the remains of her house on July 12, 2016 in Nederland, Colorado. Bretlyn and her husband Charlie lost everything in the Cold Springs Fire including their beloved St. Bernard Geno. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the couple as they begin to rebuild their lives. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
A firefighting plane drops slurry on the Cold Springs Fire northeast of Nederland on July 10. More than a dozen drone intrusions have affected aerial firefighting operations in California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Alaska, Minnesota and Montana this year.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
NEDERLAND, CO - JULY 12: A burned 2001 Porsche 996 c4, left, and a 1974 Ford Bronco, right, two of the many destroyed vehicles on the property, are a complete loss at the Schmidtmann home on July 12, 2016 in Nederland, Colorado. Charlie Schmidtmann and his wife Bretlyn, both firefighters with the Nederland Fire Department, lost everything in the Cold Springs Fire including their beloved St. Bernard Geno. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the couple as they begin to rebuild their lives. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
The Cold Springs Fire continues to burn near the town of Nederland, July 11, 2016. Crews brace for another breezy day despite cooler temperatures. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
A helicopter drops water on the Cold Springs fire northeast of Nederland on July 10.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
A large slurry bomber is led in by a lead plane to make a drop on a hot spots of the Cold Springs Fire as it burns northeast of Nederland on July 10, 2016 in Nederland, Colorado.The Cold Springs fire has more than doubled in size since it began yesterday. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
A slurry bomber make a drop along a ridge near highway 119 in Nederland fighting the Cold Springs Fire July 10, 2016.
Paul Aiken, Daily Camera
A plane drops slurry fighting the Cold Springs Nederland fire on Saturday July 9, 2016.
Paul Aiken, Boulder Daily Camera
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
NEDERLAND, CO - July 09: A slurry bomber make a drop on the Cold Springs Fire near the town of Nederland July 09, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
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NEDERLAND, CO - JULY 12: A burned 2001 Porsche 996 c4, right, and a 1974 Ford Bronco, left, two of the many destroyed vehicles on the property, are a complete loss at the Schmidtmann home on July 12, 2016 in Nederland, Colorado. Charlie Schmidtmann and his wife Bretlyn, both firefighters with the Nederland Fire Department, lost everything in the Cold Springs Fire including their beloved St. Bernard Geno. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the couple as they begin to rebuild their lives. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
