Colorado criminal charge
Firing woods or prairie in Colorado
Firing woods or prairie is a criminal offense under Colorado law, defined by C.R.S. § 18-13-109. Its classification is not fixed: Colorado assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by C.R.S. § 18-13-109.
What is the penalty for firing woods or prairie in Colorado?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 10 days (no statutory minimum) (Firing woods or prairie without lawful authority — A person, without lawful authority and knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence, sets fire to or causes fire to woods, prairie, or other grounds not their own, or negligently allows a fire set on their own grounds to pass to injure another.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Fine | up to 300 usd (no statutory minimum) (Firing woods or prairie without lawful authority — A person, without lawful authority and knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence, sets fire to or causes fire to woods, prairie, or other grounds not their own, or negligently allows a fire set on their own grounds to pass to injure another.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Jail / prison | 12 months to 18 months (Firing woods or prairie during extreme fire hazard restrictions — A person knowingly violates subsection (1)(a) while knowing or reasonably should knowing that doing so violates a governmental order, rule, or regulation restricting fires during periods of extreme fire hazard.) | presumptive | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Fine | 1000 usd to 100000 usd (Firing woods or prairie during extreme fire hazard restrictions — A person knowingly violates subsection (1)(a) while knowing or reasonably should knowing that doing so violates a governmental order, rule, or regulation restricting fires during periods of extreme fire hazard.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Parole / supervision | 1 years to 1 years (Firing woods or prairie during extreme fire hazard restrictions — A person knowingly violates subsection (1)(a) while knowing or reasonably should knowing that doing so violates a governmental order, rule, or regulation restricting fires during periods of extreme fire hazard.; mandatory parole) | mandatory | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
Applies to offenses on/after 2022-03-01 (SB21-271).
How is firing woods or prairie classified in Colorado?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firing woods or prairie without lawful authority | petty offense | A person, without lawful authority and knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence, sets fire to or causes fire to woods, prairie, or other grounds not their own, or negligently allows a fire set on their own grounds to pass to injure another. | 18-13-109(1)(a) |
| Firing woods or prairie during extreme fire hazard restrictions | class 6 felony | A person knowingly violates subsection (1)(a) while knowing or reasonably should knowing that doing so violates a governmental order, rule, or regulation restricting fires during periods of extreme fire hazard. | 18-13-109(2)(a) |
Common questions about firing woods or prairie in Colorado
Is firing woods or prairie a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?
It depends on the circumstances: firing woods or prairie ranges from a petty offense to a class 6 felony in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-13-109.
Firing woods or prairie without lawful authority: petty offense (C.R.S. § 18-13-109(1)(a)) · Firing woods or prairie during extreme fire hazard restrictions: class 6 felony (C.R.S. § 18-13-109(2)(a))
What are the penalties for firing woods or prairie in Colorado?
Penalties for firing woods or prairie in Colorado depend on how it is classified — from a petty offense up to a class 6 felony — with the ranges set by C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 and C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Colorado statute covers firing woods or prairie?
Firing woods or prairie is governed by C.R.S. § 18-13-109 (Firing woods or prairie).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.