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Law Stiffening Penalties For Leaving Unattended Campfires Goes Into Effect In Colorado

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With wildfires continuing to burn in Colorado, two laws are going into effect aimed at fighting and preventing them in the future. 

As The Denver Postreports, the penalties for leaving a campfire unattended or not fully extinguished in grasslands or a forest just became tougher under a new state law that went into effect Sunday. 

Under that law, violators will be hit with a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable by a maximum fine of $750, six months in jail or both.

A law that takes effect in August prohibits people from obstructing first responders by flying a drone into or near a wildfire. 

Violators could face a hefty fine or even jail time under that measure, which also passed during the 2018 legislative session.