Ignacio, CO, June 14, 2021
Due to the current high temperatures, dry fuel conditions and the occurrence of recent wildland fires, Stage I fire restrictions have been implemented for all trust lands throughout the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. Everyone on reservation land is asked to be very cautious and use common sense with fire this time of year…
So begins a press release sent out on Monday, on behalf of the Southern Ute Tribe, letting folks know that certain fire-related activities will be prohibited, until further notice, on the Southern Ute Reservation, as of 6am this morning, Wednesday, June 16.
The largest portion of the Southern Ute Reservation is located in La Plata County, but the reservation also occupies about 14% of Archuleta County, in its southwest corner. From the Southern Ute press release:
The following acts are prohibited for the general public on reservation lands:
- OPEN BURNING. Burning of trash and/or yard waste is prohibited.
- AGRICULTURAL BURNING. Burning of crop land, fields, rangeland, debris burning, slash piles, prescribed burning and weed burning are prohibited.
- CAMP FIRES. Building, maintaining or using a warming fire or campfire outside of officially designated or developed camp sites is prohibited. The fire restrictions do not include charcoal fires (in suitable containers) for barbeques or fires for sweat ceremonies, however, such fires are not to be left unattended and are to be fully extinguished after use.
Possession, discharging or use of any type of fireworks is prohibited.
Looking around at the bright, springtime greenery, a resident of Pagosa Springs might not suspect that our region is currently experiencing dangerous wildfire conditions. But justification for imposing fire restrictions becomes more apparent when viewing the “Drought Monitor” map published by Drought.gov. As we see, most of the eastern half of Colorado is free of drought, while nearly all of the western half — including Archuleta County — is experiencing “Moderate” to “Exceptional” drought conditions. (We’ve added a transparent white tint to Archuleta County.)
The US Forest Service, overseeing most of the the federally-owned lands in Archuleta County — about 49% of the county — also announced fire restrictions, which go into effect today, and which define specific fines for specific violations.
Southwest Colorado is in extreme drought with continued hot, dry weather forecasts creating a critical fire environment. The fine for violating campfire restrictions in Stage I has been raised to $500 in Colorado. The following are PROHIBITED under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on the San Juan National Forest:
- Igniting, building, maintaining, or using a fire (includes fires fueled by charcoal or briquettes) outside of a permanent metal or concrete fire pit or grate that the Forest Service has installed and maintained at its developed recreation sites (campgrounds and picnic areas). $500 fine. EXCEPT: The use of a stove or grill solely fueled by liquid petroleum fuels, or a fully enclosed metal stove, grill, or sheep herder type stove with a chimney at least 5’ and a mesh screen spark arrestor.
- Smoking. Except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least 3’ in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials. $300 fine.
- Operating a chainsaw without an effective and properly installed USDA — or Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) — approved spark arrestor, a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher (with a minimum 8 oz. capacity and rating of 2A) kept with the operator, and a round point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches readily available for use. $300 fine.
- Blasting, welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame without being in a cleared area of at least 10 feet in diameter and keeping a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher (with a minimum 8 oz. capacity and rating of 2A) with the operator. $300 fine.
- Using an explosive. This includes but is not limited to fuses, blasting caps, fireworks, rockets, exploding targets, tracers, and incendiary ammunition. $300 fine. $500 for exploding targets.
Not to be outdone, the Archuleta Board of County Commissioners approved its own fire restrictions at their regular meeting yesterday, also going into effect today. The Archuleta County restrictions echo the US Forest Service rules, but also mention the following permitted fires:
- Charcoal fires in suitable containers.
- Gas grills for barbecues at private residences.
- Camp stoves, grills or lights fueled by bottled gas, chimineas, or portable outdoor fireplace.
- Recreational fires in a developed park, campground, private residence, or picnic area (2 feet wide by 2 feet long by 2 feet high, protected by a permanent fire ring structure and covered by a steel grate). This includes fires in barrels and drums; fixed, permanent outdoor fireplaces; and barbecue pit fires.
- Smoking is limited to vehicles, buildings, developed recreational areas, or 6-foot-wide areas clear of vegetation.
- Internal combustion engines used in chain saws or generators must have approved spark arresters.
- Cutting and welding operations must have fire hand tools and 40 pounds worth of fire extinguishers or a pressurized water supply immediately available.
- Flaring for production of oil and gas wells is allowed, but a contact must be made to dispatch, (970) 731-2160.
The BOCC resolution allows the County Sheriff a bit of discretion.
5. 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; or
6. For the year 2021, the Archuleta Board of County Commissioners or the Archuleta County Sheriff may immediately amend, rescind, or instate any fire restrictions within unincorporated Archuleta County with a public statement as to the parameters of the fire restriction. The fire restriction can be immediately effective. A discussion of the fire restriction will be promptly scheduled for a regular Board of County Commissioners meeting, at which time; the Board shall either confirm or rescind the said restrictions…
As I understand it, the County restrictions do not apply within the boundaries of the Town of Pagosa Springs, but the Town Council is expected to approve a similar ban at their regular meeting tomorrow, Thursday, June 17. Considering the approaching July Fourth holiday, we can expect the Town rules to allow municipally-detonated fireworks.
Reportedly, about 90% of all wildfires on public lands are started by humans.
To report a fire call 9-1-1.
Bill Hudson began sharing his opinions in the Pagosa Daily Post in 2004 and can’t seem to break the habit. He claims that, in Pagosa Springs, opinions are like pickup trucks: everybody has one.