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OPEN BURNING FIRE PERMIT

An opening burning fire permit is required for an open burn conducted within the fire district boundaries. The permits may be obtained at the Administrative Office from Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. (The office is closed daily from Noon to 1:00 pm for lunch) Beginning in 2011 fire permits are $10.00 and are good from the time of purchase until the end of the calendar year in which they are purchased.

Permits buyers are required to provide a name, an address for the open burn and phone number at the time of purchase. The permit is good for one address and may be used multiple times. Each time an open burn is scheduled the permit owner must contact Central Dispatch at 264-2131.

OPEN BURNING RESTRICTIONS

All open burning within the Pagosa Fire Protection District shall comply with the current International Fire Code sections pertaining to open burning.

General. Open burning shall be conducted in accordance with Section 307 of the 2006 International Fire Code.

Restrictions. Open burning shall only be allowed during the hours between sunrise and sunset and when atmospheric conditions comply within the set limits. Absolutely no burning after dark.

Location. Open burning shall not be conducted within 50 feet of any structure or combustible material. Conditions that could cause the fire to spread within 50 feet of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition.

Fire-extinguishing Equipment. A garden hose connected to a water supply or other approved fire extinguishing equipment shall be readily available for use at open burning sites.

Attendance. Burning material shall be constantly attended by a person knowledgeable in the use of the fire-extinguishing equipment and familiar with the permit limitations that restrict open burning. An attendant shall supervise the burning material at all times until the fire has been extinguished.

Size. Brush and scrap wood may only be burned in a maximum of 3 piles at one time, with no pile exceeding a 4X4X4 foot cube. Trash must be burned in a barrel with a screen over the opening. Campfires and cooking fires are limited to a 2X2X2 foot cube.

Discontinuance. The Fire Chief is authorized to require that open burning be immediately discontinued if the Chief determines that open burning constitutes a hazardous condition. VIOLATORS RISK FINES!

Recreational campfires within permanently constructed fire pits or fire enclosures limited in size to four (4) square feet are permitted. Recreational fires within Town boundaries must be only for cooking, social gatherings, marshmallow roasting and other like activities. In no case will a fire be allowed for trash, leaf or refuse burning or be allowed to exceed the confines of the required fire containment structures.