La Plata County commissioners voted Wednesday to ease fire restrictions in all unincorporated parts of the county after monsoon rains and higher relative-humidity levels decreased fire danger locally.
The county will revert back to Stage 1 restrictions, which allow but limit the locations of campfires and smoking outdoors. Explosives, torches with an open flame and open burning, including agricultural burning, still are prohibited under the reduced restrictions.
The restrictions include allowances for certain activities related to natural-gas and oil production.
The county eased fire restrictions from Stage 2 to Stage 1 on July 17 last year, as well, according to a news release issued from La Plata County.
In a presentation to commissioners, Durango Fire & Rescue Authority Chief Dan Noonan recognized the firefighters in the county who responded quickly to extinguish small fire starts before they grew into serious blazes. He also acknowledged county residents’ diligence in watching out for potential fires.
“Any time anyone lit a fire and there was smoke in the air, there was somebody on the phone calling 911 saying you need to come check this out,” Noonan said.
Commissioners called a special meeting Wednesday to approve fire restrictions to sync with the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, which also implemented reduced fire restrictions on public lands Wednesday.
Federal and local agencies always try to coordinate decisions about fire restrictions to make it easy for the public to understand and comply with changing rules, Noonan said.
Though the last week has brought much-needed moisture to the county, another dry spell is in the forecast for the weekend, which will reduce fuel moisture, said Butch Knowlton, director of the county’s Office of Emergency Management.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s weekend forecast currently calls for a 40 percent chance of rain Saturday and a slight chance for showers and thunderstorms Sunday. The chance for precipitation dwindles next week.
ecowan@durangoherald.com
Stage 1 fire restrictions
Here is a summary of Stage 1 fire restrictions, which are now in effect in unincorporated parts of La Plata County:
Generally, Stage 1 restrictions mean:
Campfires are limited to permanent fire rings or grates within developed campgrounds.
Smoking is allowed only in vehicles, buildings or areas with a 3-foot radius clear of vegetation.
Torches with an open flame are prohibited.
The use of explosives is prohibited.
Internal-combustion engines must be equipped with a spark-arresting device.
Open burning, including agricultural burns, and burn barrels are prohibited.
