La Plata County enacts Stage 1 Fire Restrictions

At the request of the Fire Chiefs of La Plata County, La Plata County will reduce fire restrictions from Stage II to Stage I effective Friday, July 24, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. Under the direction of La Plata County Sheriff Sean Smith, this change applies to all unincorporated areas of La Plata County and all lands owned by the County, excluding private lands within the Towns of Bayfield and Ignacio, the City of Durango, and any Federal or Tribal lands.

Recent rainfall and monsoon moisture have helped reduce fire risk; however, the region remains in long-term drought conditions, and fire danger is still present.

The following acts are prohibited in the unincorporated areas of La Plata County and upon all lands owned by La Plata County, excluding those private lands in the Towns of Bayfield and Ignacio, the City of Durango, or any Federal or Tribal lands:

1. Open burning, burn barrels and agricultural burning except by agricultural producers as provided for in C.R.S. §30-15-401(n.5)(III) and defined in C.R.S. §35-28-104(11); provided however, that such agricultural burning is permitted only with 24 hours prior notification to the appropriate fire chief or the Sheriff of La Plata County; and
2. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire except if it is in:

a) A permanent metal or concrete fire pit or grate installed and maintained at a developed recreation site, 25 feet away from any combustible material or structure.

b) A charcoal grille or gas grille fueled by liquid or gas that can be turned on and off used in an area barren or cleared of all flammable materials within three feet of the device

c) A fully enclosed metal stove with a chimney at least five feet in length and a mesh screen spark arrestor with a screen opening of a ¼ inch or less used in an area that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials within 10 feet of the device.

d) Indoor fireplaces and indoor wood-burning stoves with an approved interior and exterior chimney spark arrestor.

1. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, trailer or building, or in a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area that is at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable vegetation; and
2. Welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame, except if in a cleared area of at least 10 feet in diameter and a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher (with a minimum 8 oz. capacity and rating of Class 2A) is kept with the operator. 36 CFR § 261.52
3. The use of an explosive, blasting caps, or any other incendiary device, including fireworks and the use of any model rockets.

a) Permitted exception: Blasting in development areas or construction areas with continuous fire watch will be permitted with written authorization of the appropriate fire chief or the Sheriff of La Plata County, whomever has jurisdiction.

1. Operating any combustion engine without an operating spark-arresting device.
2. The use of floating sky lanterns, fire balloons or acetylene balloons are always banned through Ordinance 2021-03.

Flaring for oil and gas production wells and production facilities may be allowed with the approval from the designated fire chief (or his designee) for that district, or in the event no fire district exists for the location of the proposed flaring, the La Plata County Director of the Office of Emergency Management (OEM Director). Any flaring from established gas processing plants or facilities is exempted.

The restrictions do provide flexibility to Sheriff Sean Smith and the fire chiefs of the local fire districts to grant exceptions within their respective jurisdictions if they deem such actions to be safe, appropriate and prudent in their professional opinions. Local community fireworks displays are allowed only under the control of the fire chief within whose jurisdiction the display will take place.

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 and the Chiefs of the local fire districts.