FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, June 27, 2017
Commissioners enact Stage 1 fire restrictions south of Highway 160
On Tuesday, the La Plata County Board of County
Commissioners enacted restrictions on open burning south of U.S. Highway 160
effective 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 28. These Stage 1 restrictions affect
unincorporated private land and state land areas in La Plata County. County Commissioners enacted the fire
restrictions on the recommendation of Sheriff Sean Smith and the chiefs of the
local fire districts.
“We have had good moisture through the winter and spring
months that has led to dense ground fuels,” said Butch Knowlton, La Plata
County director of emergency management.
“Those grasses and smaller fuels at the lower elevations have now dried
and created conditions that allow for rapid fire development and movement.”
The fire restrictions prohibit open burning, burn barrels
and agricultural burning on private property and State lands south of U.S. Highway
160. Charcoal fires are allowed in suitable containers, as are gas grills for
barbeques at private residences or fires within designated campground pits with
protective grates. Residents and visitors must not to leave these fires
unattended and must carefully and fully extinguish them after use. The
use of a campfire, coal or wood-burning stove, any type of charcoal grill or
open fire in any undeveloped area is prohibited.
Stage 1 fire restrictions articulate the following:
• Smoking
is limited to vehicles, buildings, developed recreational areas and 3-foot-wide
areas cleared of vegetation.
• Fireworks
are prohibited.
• Use
of explosive material is prohibited.
• Use
of any internal combustion engine is prohibited unless it is equipped with an
approved and functioning spark-arresting device.
• Welding
and cutting operations must be conducted with a 20-foot radius safe zone free
of vegetation with a 2.5 gallon pressurized fire extinguisher or 5 lb. ABC
extinguisher or pressurized water supply and proper hand tools on site with a
fire watch individual standing by continuously.
• Flaring
for production wells may be allowed with approval from the designated fire
chief.
A violation of the fire restrictions shall constitute a
class 2 petty offense punishable by a fine of up to $300 for each
violation.
The fire restrictions will remain in effect until the threat
of fire danger in La Plata County has reduced significantly, as determined by
the sheriff, local fire chiefs and the county’s director of emergency management.
Should conditions worsen, heightened fire restrictions may be enacted.
The Southern Ute Indian Tribe has enacted similar fire
restrictions that will also take effect on June 28 for tribal lands; the Bureau
of Land Management enacted Stage I fire restrictions effective today on agency
lands in La Plata, Archuleta, Dolores, Montezuma, Montrose and San Miguel
counties.
The U.S. Forest Service will continue to closely monitor
conditions, but has not issued fire restrictions at this time. Most Forest Service lands in La Plata County
are at higher elevations and currently, the conditions at the upper elevations
are not dangerously dry and are ideal for managed fires.
At this time, all public fireworks displays for Fourth of
July celebrations will continue under the supervision of the respective fire
districts. Final decisions will be made according to conditions as the date
approaches.
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