By Randi Pierce | Staff Writer
Due to the potential of wildfire, an open burning fire permit is required for all open burning conducted within Archuleta County.
“Everybody in the county is still required to have a burn permit,” Archuleta County Undersheriff Mike Le Roux said recently, emphasizing that every single person with the exception of a legitimate agricultural burn is required to obtain a permit.
For much of Archuleta County, that means getting a permit through the Pagosa Fire Protection District (PFPD).
Permits may be obtained from the PFPD at the PFPD Administrative Office from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (the office is closed from noon to 1 p.m. daily for lunch), according to the PFPD website.
An application can also be downloaded at: https://pagosafire.org/permits-fees/.
Permits, according to the website, are $10 and are good from the time of purchase until the end of the calendar year in which they are purchased. The permit is good for one address and may be used multiple times.
PFPD Deputy Chief Karn Macht noted Monday he is impressed the PFPD hasn’t seen any issues with open burning yet this spring, but recommended that anyone thinking about having an open burn do it as early in the morning as they possibly can in order to be done before the wind picks up in the afternoon.
Le Roux also indicated that Pagosa Country has seen favorable fire conditions this spring.
As of Monday, the PFPD’s website listed the local fire danger as moderate.
Le Roux also suggested looking to burn in the morning and when there’s little to no wind, adding that potential for moisture is another good condition to look for.
Additional condition-specific information, he noted, is included with the burn permit.
For more information
For more information on the Archuleta County ordinance, visit: http://www.archuletacounty.org/316/Ordinances.
Information on open burning within the Town of Pagosa Springs can be found in Section 12.8.15 of the Town of Pagosa Springs Municipal Code, which is available on the town’s website, https://www.pagosasprings.co.gov/.
For more information on burn permits, open burning or to download the application for the PFPD, visit: https://pagosafire.org/permits-fees/.
For more information about burning within the Los Pinos Fire Protection District, including the appropriate dispatch centers to notify, visit: https://lospinosfire.com/open-burning.html.
randi@pagosasun.com
