By order of Sheriff Darren Weekly, Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in place for unincorporated areas of Douglas County. Ordinance No. O-012-004 restricts open fires, open burning, and the use of fireworks in the unincorporated areas of Douglas County.
Alert
In observance of Christmas, all Douglas County offices will close at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 24, and will be closed for the entire day on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025. Offices will reopen at 8 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 26, for normal business. Many County services are available 24/7 by visiting online services.
A power outage occurs when the electrical power to homes, businesses, and the community is lost. During a power outage, you may face a number of hazards that can affect your health and safety, including the following:
Disrupt communications, water and transportation.
Close businesses, grocery stores, gas stations, other services.
Cause food spoilage and water contamination.
Prevent the use of medical devices.
The following tips can help you prepare for and manage the loss of electrical power:
Preparing for a power outage:
Have alternate plans for any medications that require refrigeration or for medical devices that require power.
Stock up on food that is nonperishable and get bottled water.
Fill up your vehicle with gasoline.
Obtain extra batteries or find alternative power sources.
Have flashlights for every person in your house.
Charge any cell phones or other communication devices prior to an outage, and conserve batteries during a power outage.
Install carbon monoxide detectors.
During a power outage:
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. If you have to get into either of these, don’t leave the doors open for long.
Food in a freezer will stay frozen for about 72 hours if you do not open the doors.
Food in a refrigerator will stay cold for about 4 hours if you do not open the doors.
Throw out any food that measures warmer than 41 degrees Fahrenheit.
A generator, camp stove, or charcoal grill should be only be used outside and at least 20 feet away from any windows, doors, and attached garages.
Heating your home with a gas stove or oven increases your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and fires.
Disconnect electronics and turn off any light switches to prevent damage when the power returns.
If safe, go to an alternate location for heat or cooling.
After a power outage:
Check your food. Throw out any food that measures more than 41 degrees Fahrenheit or food that has an unusual odor, color or texture.
For power outages that are longer than one day, discard any medication that should be refrigerated unless the label says otherwise. Consult with your doctor or pharmacist for a new supply.
If you need to report an urgent public health concern, on-call staff are available 24/7 at 720-643-2400.
Protect Yourself from Measles
36 cases of measles have been confirmed in Colorado in 2025. Get the most current information on measles in Colorado, including locations of possible exposure. Information on exposure times and locations in Colorado are also posted publicly on the CDPHE measles website.
Measles, once considered eliminated in the US, has made a resurgence this year. The largest current outbreaks are concentrated in Texas, New Mexico, and Kansas. Learn more about measles infection and prevention. For the latest case counts and outbreak information, visit the CDC’s measles webpages.
If you plan to travel to states or countries with current measles outbreaks, make sure you and your family members are up to date with your measles vaccine (2 doses) at least 2 weeks prior to travel to prevent illness. MMR vaccine is available at primary care provider clinics, retail pharmacies, and through the Vaccines for Children program for children who are uninsured, underinsured, or on Medicaid. Call the Douglas County Health Department with questions about locating an MMR vaccine at 720-643-2400 (press option 3, then option 1).
Health care providers can contact CDPHE at 303-692-2700 to coordinate measles testing at the CDPHE lab.
Updated 12/16/2025
Douglas County Health Department Calendar of Events
There are no upcoming events.
Public Health Order
On March 14, 2024, the Douglas County Health Department, under the direction of the Douglas County Board of Health, extended a Dec. 14, 2023 Public Health Order setting forth requirements for sheltering migrant persons in Douglas County.
Colorado’s Core Public Health Services Requirements In 2008, the Colorado Public Health Act required the State Board of Health 1) to establish, by rule, core public health services that each county and district public health agency must provide or ensure, and 2) to establish minimum quality standards for those public health services. Effective Jan. 1, 2020, state and local health departments in Colorado are required to ensure the provision of seven Foundational Capabilities and five Foundational Services
In addition to the baseline, required services, a county may also consider additional services based on the unique public health needs of its community.
As such, in 2021, a public process, led by Douglas County and a team of public health experts, identified the unique public health needs of our communities through the implementation of a Community Health Assessment and a Public Health Improvement Plan, both requirements of state law for all public health agencies.
The public process revealed what our communities believe are the top three public health issues:
Behavioral Health – includes mental health and substance use
Injury Prevention
Disease Management and Prevention — addressing behaviors that lead to chronic diseases
Governed by a Board of Health, your Health Department is providing services in sync with the unique needs of Douglas County.
Your new 21st Century Douglas County Health Department aims to do our part to sustain healthy Douglas County communities while encouraging you to take a proactive role in managing your own health. We are dedicated to keeping you informed to help you make informed decisions toward healthier lives, through collaborative partnerships and actions to affect upstream determinants of health.
Subscribe to be among the first to receive public health updates from your health department.
Funding the Health Department The Board of Health and the Board of Douglas County Commissioners committed that the General Fund cost to operate the new health department would not exceed the County’s most recent share as part of Tri-County Health, or $2.5 million – the per capita cost for Douglas County served by Tri-County Health in 2022. The 2023 Health Department Budget is $7.4 million, funding by $4.5 million in state and federal grant programs, $900,000 from services fees, and $2 million in taxpayer dollars from the General Fund, approximately $700,000 less than previously contributed to Tri-County annually. View the Health Department Budget Facts.
History of Public Health Services Delivery in Douglas County On Jan. 1, 1966, following the South Platte River Floods of 1965, Douglas County joined the Tri-County District Health Department, providing Douglas County residents and businesses with requisite public health services. On Sept. 14, 2021, Douglas County separated from Tri-County Health Department to form its own local public health department with an Intergovernmental Agreement for Tri-County Health Department to continue providing some public health services through the end of 2022. Douglas County is now independent from Tri-County Health Department, with its own local health department.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Additional information on a variety of health topics is available from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Get the latest guidance on currently circulating illnesses, learn about chronic disease prevention, get recommendations for staying healthy while traveling, and much more.
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