FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
For
additional information, please June
18, 2013
contact:
Butch Knowlton at 970-382-6270 11:55 a.m.
FIRE RESTRICTIONS
Durango, CO – Due to the
increasingly dry conditions, low humidity and frequent winds in La Plata County,
and the serious threat of fire danger that these conditions impose, the La
Plata County Board of County Commissioners today enacted restrictions effective
at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 on open burning on private lands in
the unincorporated areas of La Plata County and upon all lands owned by La
Plata County.
The fire restrictions were
enacted by the La Plata County Board of County Commissioners upon the
recommendation of Sheriff Duke Schirard and the Chiefs of the four local fire
districts within La Plata County serving specific areas of the County. The restrictions do provide flexibility to
the local fire chiefs to ease restrictions within their respective
jurisdictions, if they deem such actions to be safe, appropriate and prudent in
their professional opinions.
“La Plata County has been
experiencing frequent red flag warnings which are anticipated forecasts of high
winds, high temperatures and low humidity that cause significant fire danger. In some areas of La Plata County, we are
currently two inches below average for our annual precipitation and the ground
fuels are now turning brown and dry which increases the potential for the
ignition of a wildfire,” explained Butch Knowlton, Emergency Management
Director. “As a result of those conditions, La Plata County is now facing
extremely dry conditions that can provide explosive fire growth and behavior.”
The fire restrictions prohibit
open burning, burn barrels and agricultural burning on private property in the
unincorporated areas of La Plata County and on property owned by La Plata
County. The use of a campfire, coal or
wood-burning stove, any type of charcoal grill or open fire in any undeveloped
area is prohibited. The fire
restrictions do not include charcoal fires in suitable containers or gas grills
for barbeques at private residences or fires within designated campground pits
with protective grates; however, residents and visitors alike are encouraged
not to leave these fires unattended and to carefully and fully extinguish them
after use.
The open flame prohibitions also
include the following:
- Smoking is limited to vehicles, buildings,
developed recreational areas and 3-foot-wide areas cleared of vegetation;
- 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; and
- Flaring activities at established refineries are
exempted from these restrictions.
For specific information
about the fire restrictions, individuals should contact their local fire
department. 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 La Plata County fire
response agencies will continue to monitor the situation and if the conditions
continue to deteriorate, a more restrictive fire ban may be developed. The fire restrictions will remain in effect
until such time as the threat of fire danger in La Plata County has reduced
significantly, as determined by the Sheriff, local fire chiefs and the La Plata
County Director of Emergency Management.
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