Upon the recommendation the local fire chiefs, the La Plata County Board of County Commissioners lifted the Stage I fire restrictions in La Plata County, which includes all private lands in the county south of US Highway 160. This excludes private lands in the towns of Bayfield, Ignacio, Durango as well as federal and Tribal lands
Although the fire restrictions have been lifted, residents must obtain a burn permit from their local fire department for all fires other than agricultural or recreational (defined below). To receive a permit, contact:
• Durango Fire Protection District (for properties in the Animas Valley corridor from the north county line to New Mexico), complete a permit at www.durangofirerescue.org/prevention.html or call 382-6023.
• Upper Pine Fire Protection District (for properties east of Bayfield north to Vallecito), call 884-9508;
• Fort Lewis Mesa Fire Protection District (for properties in west La Plata County near Hesperus to the state line on Highway 140), call 238-0115; or
• Los Pinos Fire Protection District (for properties in southeastern La Plata County and surrounding Ignacio), call 563-9501.
Immediately prior to any burn, residents should notify dispatch at 385-2900, or 563-4401 in the Ignacio area.
Permits are not required for agricultural burns on land designated as agricultural by the Assessor's Office. No permit is required for recreational fires, defined as "an outdoor fire burning materials other than rubbish where the fuel being burned is not contained in an incinerator, outdoor fireplace, barbeque grill or barbeque pit and has a total fuel area of 3 feet or less in diameter and 2 feet or less in height for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth or similar purposes." A 25-foot setback from structures is required for recreational fires.
Commissioners originally enacted fire restrictions on July 1 to mitigate high fire danger in La Plata County due to a lack of precipitation and extremely dry conditions.
Although the fire restrictions have been lifted, residents are still urged to exercise caution when burning.
http://co.laplata.co.us/cms/One.aspx?portalId=1323753&pageId=4924025
