San Juan County, N.M., Fire Department officials have changed the times burn permits will be issued for agricultural burning in unincorporated parts of San Juan County.
Starting Monday, the San Juan County Fire Department will accept applications for burn permits only between 8 a.m. and noon each day.
While many San Juan County residents are at home, the volume of burn permits issued has increased greatly. With more burn permits issued and residents performing these burns, the potential for burns to grow out of control increases.
To make sure emergency crews are available, the times a resident may call for a burn permit has been reduced. Despite the decreased hours to obtain a burn permit, all-day burn permit holders may still burn all day.
Residents can rely on San Juan County Fire Department Facebook page for the daily burn recommendation. The burn recommendation may be for burning all day, or until noon, and are issued based on the weather forecast. The San Juan County Fire Department closely monitors changing weather conditions and will update the recommendation as necessary.
If the burn recommendation allows, residents may call (505) 334-1180 to get a burn permit. Permits are only issued for residents who are burning vegetative material only. Burn permittees should call 911 as soon as they think the fire might be getting out of control.
