A controlled burn west of Durango along the U.S. Highway 160 corridor on Sunday led to smoky skies rising from a ridgeline causing concern about the fire-prone landscape.
A La Plata County Central Dispatch spokeswoman said several calls had been received reporting smoke, but it was coming from a controlled burn on private property
Smoke was clearly visible from Rim Drive. Crews responded around 3:15 p.m., and the situation was determined to be under control.
Randy Black, Battalion Chief with Durango Fire & Rescue Authority said the property owners notified authorities about the burn, they had a permit, and were in compliance with regulations for burning.
“It looked a lot worse than it was,” Black said, “We just double-checked to see,”
He said they encourage controlled burning of wood and yard waste, but no other products, for fire mitigation.
“We want them to burn,” he said.
In the county, property owners must be issued a permit after an inspection, and are then allowed to burn 6-foot by 6-foot piles of material one at a time, Black said.
bmathis@durangoherald.com
