A day after federal lands agencies lifted fire restrictions on Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service Lands in La Plata County, county officials followed suit. La Plata County commissioners on Tuesday agreed to lift fire restrictions on all unincorporated parts of the county.

Stage 1 fire restrictions have been in effect since June, and Stage 2 restrictions were in place from July 9 to July 17.

Of the 10 indicators of fire danger, La Plata County now does not meet any of them, Durango Fire & Rescue Authority Marshal Karola Hanks said.

The moisture levels of both large and small fuels have increased thanks to rains throughout the county, fire officials told commissioners Tuesday.

The restrictions had limited fires, smoking and the use of explosives, torches and power tools outdoors.

Though fire restrictions no longer are in effect, residents still need to obtain a permit from their local fire department before they conduct open burns with the exception of religious fires, burns on lands classified as agricultural and recreational fires that are no bigger than 2-by-3 feet.

The permit requirement is a year-round policy that has been in effect for about a year and a half, but this is the first year the department has fully enforced it, Hanks said.

Residents mistook Tuesday’s announcement that fire restrictions were lifted on public lands to mean that they could resume all open burning, which is not the case, Hanks said.

“I had people burning like crazy with today’s headlines,” she said.

People who have had permits in the past can call their local fire department to renew the permit.

Residents who do decide to conduct burns and do not require a permit also are encouraged to call dispatch so officials can be aware of burns going on in the area.

ecowan@durangoherald.com

Open burn permits at a glance

At all times of the year, La Plata County residents must obtain a permit to conduct an open burn.

Exceptions to needing a permit are religious fires, burns on lands classified as agricultural and recreational fires smaller than 2-by-3 feet.

Permits can be obtained from the following fire departments:

Durango Fire & Rescue Authority (for properties in the Animas Valley corridor from the north county line to New Mexico), visit www.durangofirerescue.org/prevention.html to fill out the online permit 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 surrounding Hesperus to the Colorado-New Mexico state line on Colorado Highway 140), call 238-0115 or 759-1153.

Los Pinos Fire Protection District (for properties in the southeast corner of La Plata County and surrounding Ignacio), call 563-9501.

Immediately before any burn, residents should call Durango-La Plata Emergency Communications Center at 385-2900 (or 563-4401 for residents near Ignacio) so dispatchers will be able to relay information about the burn being conducted.