La Plata County enacts Stage I Fire Restrictions

In the interest of public health, safety and welfare, the La Plata County Sheriff enacted Stage I fire restrictions effective Friday, May 22 at 12:01 a.m. in the unincorporated areas of La Plata County and upon all lands owned by La Plata County excluding those private lands in the Towns of Bayfield and Ignacio, the City of Durango, or any Federal or Tribal lands. La Plata County has been experiencing extreme, exceptional drought with low humidity and these conditions present a heightened potential for fast-moving fire behavior.

Stage I restrictions include the following provisions:

• A complete ban of open burning, burn barrels and agricultural burning except for the very limited agriculture burning as allowed by state statute.
• Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, except if it is:
  1. In a permanent metal or concrete fire pit or grate in developed recreation sites (campgrounds and picnic areas), or a metal or concrete fire pit on developed private property.
  2. A charcoal grille or gas grille fueled by liquid or gas that can be turned on and off used in an area barren or cleared of all flammable materials within three feet of the device; or

• In a fully enclosed metal stove with a chimney at least five feet in length and a mesh screen spark arrestor with a screen opening of a ¼ inch or less used in an area that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials within 10 feet of the device.

1. Indoor fireplaces and indoor wood-burning stoves with an approved interior and exterior chimney spark arrestor.

• A complete ban on campfires in undeveloped or Public Lands.
• Smoking, unless within an enclosed vehicle, trailer, or building, or while stopped in an area that is at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable vegetation.
• Welding, pipefitting, metal grinding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame unless the following requirements are met: a 10-foot diameter safe zone free of vegetation and all flammable materials, and a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher (with a minimum 8 oz. capacity and rating of Class 2A) is kept with the operator.
• Using an explosive, including but not limited to fireworks, blasting caps, or any other incendiary device. Blasting in development areas or construction areas with continuous fire watch may be permitted with written authorization of the appropriate fire chief or the Sheriff of La Plata County, whoever has jurisdiction; and
• Flaring for oil and gas production wells and production facilities may be allowed with the approval from the designated fire chief (or his designee) for that district, or in the event no fire district exists for the location of the proposed flaring, the La Plata County Director of the Office of Emergency Management (OEM Director). Any flaring from established gas processing plants or facilities is exempted; and
• The use of floating sky lanterns, fire balloons or acetylene balloons.

The restrictions do provide flexibility to Sheriff Sean Smith and the fire chiefs of the local fire districts to ease restrictions within their respective jurisdictions if they deem such actions to be safe, appropriate and prudent in their professional opinions. Local community fireworks displays are allowed only under the control of the fire chief within whose jurisdiction the display will take place.

Any person who violates declared fire restrictions commits a Class 2 petty offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of five hundred dollars ($500.00) for a first offense, seven hundred and fifty dollars ($750.00) for a second offense and one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for a third and subsequent offense, in addition to any restitution, as defined in C.R.S. § 18-1.3-602(3), including but not limited to the costs of fire suppression or property damage caused by the violation.

The La Plata County fire response agencies will continue to monitor the situation and if the conditions continue to deteriorate, a more restrictive fire ban may be developed. The fire restrictions will remain in effect until such time as the threat of fire danger in La Plata County has reduced significantly, as determined by the Sheriff and the Chiefs of the local fire districts.