The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests lifted Stage 1 fire restrictions Aug. 16 for the first time since May, with the Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office announcing on Facebook the same day that they would follow suit.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the Stage 1 fire ban is “canceled" as of Aug. 17, with the National Forest Service and Boulder and Gilpin counties doing the same.

The Forest Service cited “monsoonal rains,” moisture levels and availability of firefighting resources as reasons for lifting the ban in a press release. 

“Monsoonal rains have helped drought conditions recover. Most areas of the forest are no longer in drought, and other areas are experiencing only light drought,” the release continued.

Moisture levels in vegetation and fallen trees being better than normal reduces the chances of “rapid wildfire spread” the release said, and the monsoons are expected to continue in the coming weeks.

Sheriff Rick Albers had previously pointed to the Forest Service’s continued ban as a reason for not lifting Clear Creek’s, along with showing a “united front” with the rest of the front range who are similarly only lifting their bans now.

The lifting of the ban allows campfires and smoking in wooded areas.