Log In


Reset Password
News Education Local News Nation & World New Mexico

Montezuma County starts fire ban in wake of Sage Hen blaze

Open fires, fireworks banned in unincorporated areas

Firefighters continued Monday to mop up hot spots and cut down brush at the 180-acre wildfire that erupted Saturday afternoon in the Sage Hen area of McPhee Reservoir.

The fire was expected to be fully contained by Tuesday, according to a U.S. Forest Service official.

Also on Monday, Montezuma County commissioners instituted a countywide fire ban that is effective immediately and until further notice. Open fires and the use of fireworks are not permitted in unincorporated areas of Montezuma County, including private land within public land areas. Exemptions may be issued on an as-needed basis. For more information and to view the full ordinance, visit the county website at montezumacounty.org.

The commissioners voted unanimously for the ban after requests from Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin and regional fire chiefs. Hot, dry weather is expected to continue through the week.

The Sage Hen Fire was reported about 4:15 p.m. Saturday on a private, grassy field near Roads X and 25 just north of the reservoir’s Great Cut Dike, said Montezuma County Emergency Manager Paul Hollar. It then moved north and east onto about 16 acres of U.S. Forest Service land, burning through piñon and juniper.

Dozens of firefighters and fire-fighting aircraft were used.

Responding agencies included the Cortez, Dolores and Lewis-Arriola fire departments, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office and the Durango Fire Protection District. In addition, Department of Homeland Security Office of Emergency Management Field Manager also responded.

High temperatures, low humidity and dry vegetation have combined to increase the risk for wildfires. High temperatures in the middle to upper 90s are forecast for the rest of the week, with overnight lows in the 50s.

On Monday, the Forest Service announced it was prepositioning additional firefighting aircraft including three single-engine air tankers (SEATS) at the Durango air tanker base and a helicopter crew at the Archuleta County airport. Other additional resources being repositioned at Dolores, Bayfield and Pagosa Springs include seven fire engines and three fire-prevention patrols.

The announcement came as the Forest Service announced that a fire weather watch was underway for Tuesday in northeast La Plata, San Juan, Hinsdale and Archuleta counties.



Reader Comments