By Hailey Sams | SUN Intern
On Tuesday, July 18, the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) enacted Stage 1 fire restrictions for public and private land within unincorporated Archuleta County.
The restrictions took effect at 9 a.m. Tuesday and are in order to prevent wildfires. The resolution containing the restrictions passed with a unanimous vote.
The restrictions are necessary “for the preservation of public health, safety, and welfare throughout Archuleta County,” the resolution states.
It adds, “The criteria for a Stage 1 Fire Restriction is set forth in the ‘2018 Southwest Annual Operating Plan’ and the ‘Southwest Colorado Fire Danger Operating Plan’” states the resolution, “the Board of County Commissioners of Archuleta County has received competent evidence that there exists a high danger of forest, grass or other wildland fires within the unincorporated areas of Archuleta County.”
“We’ve used this resolution and parameters for the last ... two years,” Sheriff Mike Le Roux relayed to the board. “The goal is to reduce the amount of impact of any fire that gets out of hand.”
Hinsdale County also recently implemented Stage 1 restrictions for the Upper Piedra.
The restrictions are in addition to restrictions set previously, with the Bureau of Land Management and Southern Ute Indian Tribe and lower elevations of the San Juan National Forest already under Stage 1 restrictions.
Stage 1 restrictions may vary by jurisdiction, and recreationists should check restrictions for specific areas prior to visiting the area.
All restrictions are in effect until rescinded by each agency.
Prohibited activities
The Stage 1 restrictions for Archuleta County, according to the resolution approved by the commissioners, prohibits:
• Fires: Building, maintaining, attending or using any fire, campfire, coal- or wood-burning stove, any type of charcoal-fueled broiler, or open fire of any type in underdeveloped areas.
• Burn permits: Burn permits issued shall not be authorized during the fire restriction period.
• Fireworks: The use of all fireworks is prohibited in a fire ban. This includes “permissible fireworks’’ such as, but not limited, to small fireworks devices designed to produce audible or visual effects by combustion, fountains, cones, spinners, sparklers, poppers, snake or glow worm pellets and other trick noisemakers.
• Open burning: Agricultural burning of cropland, fields, rangeland, weed burning, debris burning, slash piles, prescribed burning and any open burning include bonfires that will require a permit from the fire authority having jurisdiction.
• Shooting: Shooting tracer rounds or explosive type targets are prohibited. The use of an explosive initiation system requiring a burning fuse line is prohibited.
• Smoking: Smoking — except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area of at least 6 feet diameter that is barren or cleared of all combustible material — is not authorized.
Approved exemptions
The following acts are approved exemptions during fire restrictions according to the resolution:
• Fire: Recreational fires will be limited to appliances fueled by bottled gas or pressurized liquid fuel at developed parks, campground, private residence or picnic areas. They cannot be closer than 30 feet to an undeveloped area. Recreational fires within a permanently constructed fire grate in a developed park, campground, private residence or picnic area are also allowed and cannot be closer than 30 feet to an undeveloped area.
• Chain saws: Operating a chain saw with a USDA- or SAE-approved spark-arresting device properly installed and in effective working order and having a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher of not less than 8 ounces capacity by weight and possessing one large size pointed shovel with an overall length of at least 36 inches is allowed during fire restrictions. The extinguisher shall be with the chain saw operator. The shovel may be kept with the fueling supplies, but readily available for quick use.
• Charcoal grills: Charcoal grills that use either charcoal briquettes or all-natural lump charcoal as their fuel source are allowed. The charcoal, when burned, will transform into embers radiating the heat necessary to cook food. Charcoal grill fires at private residences or within a permanently constructed fire ring structure covered by a steel grate in a developed park, campground or picnic area are allowed during fire restrictions. Charcoal barbecue grills shall not be closer than 30 feet to an underdeveloped area.
• Chimineas or portable outdoor fireplaces: A chiminea or a portable outdoor fireplace is allowed at private residences or within a developed park, campground or picnic area. They cannot be closer than 30 feet to an undeveloped area and not closer than 15 feet to a structure or combustible material, with covers, screens, spark arresters and grates.
• Heating devices: Any fire contained within liquid-fueled or gas-fueled stoves, lanterns or heating devices are allowed during fire restrictions.
• Permitted fires: Certain types of permitted fires are exempted within the resolution.
• Tiki torches: Tiki torches at private residences or within a developed park, campground or picnic area and that are not closer than 30 feet to an undeveloped area and not closer than 15 feet to a structure or combustible material are allowed.
• Welding and cutting torches: Welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame within an area that is barren or cleared of all combustible material at least 10 feet on all sides from the equipment is allowed during fire restrictions. Welding and cutting torch appliances may only be operated in an area no closer than 30 feet from an undeveloped area.
• Wood pellet grills: Approved wood pellet grills are exempt.
• Oil and gas industry: Oil and gas operations are required to comply with the requirements of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Rules for Fire Prevention and Protections, Rule 606A.
“The Sheriff may grant written permission to allow open fires upon request, provided that it is proven to their satisfaction that such exception to the fire restrictions does not constitute a high danger of forest, grass, or other wildland fire,” the resolution explains.
hailey@pagosasun.com
