A landowner on the 23000 block of County Road P was ticketed Thursday by the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office for an illegal burn pile.

A passerby reported the blaze about 2 p.m., and the Cortez Fire Protection District and Lewis Fire Department responded and put it out.

Officials said the man was ticketed because dispatch was not notified beforehand, as required, and because it was a Red Flag day. On a Red Flag day, burns may get out of control because of high winds and low humidity.

Fire officials said the landowner was trying to beat the countywide fire ban, which begins on Saturday, July 1. The fire did not leave the burn pile.