Eagle Valley Homeowners Keep Patios Warm During Fire Bans

Aspen —The air in the Eagle Valley has that specific, crisp bite to it now. It’s the kind of cold that settles into your bones by 8 p.m., making you question every decision you made when you opened the patio doors for dinner. For most folks, this is the signal to retreat indoors, to close the blinds and let the season die with the temperature. But there’s a warmth to staying out, a way to keep the summer alive that doesn’t require you to fight against local fire officials.

It’s a common misconception that the moment a Stage 2 fire ban hits, your outdoor living space is dead. You can’t light a charcoal grill? Maybe. But you can still sit by a flame. The obvious take is that fire bans mean no fire, period. But if you look closely at the regulations, and talk to the people who install these things for a living, that take is wrong.

Jason and Jennifer Lance of Alpine Valley Fireplace have spent their careers navigating the exact intersection where personal comfort meets county code. They know that while open wood fires are off the table, propane and gas systems remain viable. Jennifer explained it plainly: “When there is a Stage 2 fire ban, you can still use your gas fire pit.”

It’s not just about having a flame; it’s about compliance. The Town of Vail and the Town of Avon require timers on these units. Eagle County requires safety pilots. “We invest a lot in ongoing training in meeting requirements,” Jennifer said, noting that these aren’t average appliances. “It’s something that can burn your house down, so we do everything by the book.”

For homeowners in Vail, Avon, or Edwards who want to extend their patio season without guessing at the rules, Alpine Valley offers three distinct paths. There’s the “plug and play” option, where a unit connects directly to your existing gas line. Then there’s the “ready to finish” category, which comes with a pre-built enclosure you can clad in your own choice of stone or tile. Finally, there’s the fully customized unit, where a builder analyzes your specific space to construct a cement block with an integrated burner system.

Their best-selling brand is Warming Trends, a Denver-based company that designs one-of-a-kind features using wood, concrete, and various stones. “We did a house in East Vail and they made this fancy, 8-foot-long fire feature,” Jennifer said. “Anything people can imagine, it can be made.”

But a flame isn’t always enough when the wind picks up. For those with breezy patios, portable outdoor heaters and wind guards become essential tools to retain the warmth. “When it’s really cold, that’s when we recommend a heater behind you,” Jennifer advised. Fire pits provide ambiance, but wind guards ensure that heat actually stays where you’re sitting.

Jason sees these features extending the usable season from spring through fall, a way to keep the joy of an outdoor fire alive even as the calendar turns. He notes that it really gives people a continued connection to their outdoor spaces, allowing them to linger on the deck long after the sun has dipped behind the mountains.

The valley is quiet now, except for the low hum of a gas burner and the occasional crackle of a flame held steady by a glass wind guard.