Durango Open Burning Guidelines

With spring approaching it’s almost Durango’s open burning season, due to the risks of fires spreading La Plata County ( Which the City of Durango belongs to) requires permits to open burn.

Here is the press release from Durango Fire Protection District’s Fire Prevention Bureau:

Open Burning Guidelines

Open burn permits are issued Monday, Wednesday, & Friday from Noon – 4:30 PM at the Durango Fire Protection District Prevention Bureau, 104 Sheppard Dr. in Durango

January 1,  2012 the State of Colorado required all Counties with greater than 40% forested land to implement an Open Burn Permit Program. La Plata County is 70% forested land. The La Plata County permit program was entitled Open Fire Control so as to distinguish it from burn bans inplemented by the La Plata County Board of County Commissioners during times of significant fire danger.

The process for those individuals residing in the Durango Fire Protection District (DFPD) and in La Plata County is:

• The application is on the DFPD website which can be found here
• You may complete the application online with the exception of your initials and signature.
• Print the application and bring it to 104 Sheppard Drive, Durango, CO 81301
• To ensure that there is someone available to process your application, please bring your application in on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday between 12:00 PM and 4:30 PM
• The day you burn, please contact Central Dispatch at (970) 385-2900 to advise them you are burning. They will ask for your permit number.
• Burn piles are restricted in size to 4 feet by 4 feet and the material to be burned shall be limited to natural vegetation less than 6 inches in diameter. Burns greater in size may require a State of Colorado smoke permit.

The State of Colorado does not allow the burning of coated or treated wood products, tree stumps, cut lumber, construction debris, plastics, tires, rubber, and other chemical products.

Agricultural burns, where the land is listed as agricultural by the Tax Assesor, are not required to obtain a burn permit.
No open burning is permitted within the City Limits of Durango other than recreational fires (3’ x 3’ x 2’) for cooking and warming.

Official flyer released by DFPD

Risks of wild fires are a real danger in Durango and La Plata County, following these guidelines when you do open burns ensures not only your safety but the safety of everyone in the county.