At least two small fires investigators believe were set intentionally put up a column of smoke that was visible from most areas in downtown Durango on Thursday afternoon.
The fire was about 70 yards long and burning near the banks of the Animas River, said Randy Black, chief of the Durango Fire Protection District.
One fire was set on the side of a tree, while the second fire was set near some brush behind the pickleball courts at Schneider Park, said DFPD Battalion Chief Jim Anderson.
Durango police Detective Deondre Ball said the fire is being investigated as arson, adding that a man admitted to investigators to setting it.
Ball said the man admitted to burning some cotton which sparked the fire, but the reason was still unknown.
“If you’ve ever lit cotton yourself, it’ll light up in a second. It’ll just take off,” Ball said.
Ball said charges against the man would include fourth-degree arson, a felony. That entails recklessly maintaining or causing a fire because it is a highly populated area, Ball said.
“There’s a lot of people that are endangered at the same time,” he said.
Anderson said trees like the one that was set on fire are referred to as “heavies,” which are large, older trees that have died or fallen down.
About halfway up the tree, some smoke was seen coming out of it, even a half-hour after the fire was extinguished. The bottom half of the tree was charred.
“We’ll continue to assess it. If that comes down, we’ll bring it down without cordoning off the area,” Anderson said, adding fire crews will re-evaluate the scene Friday morning.
The fire started about 12:15 p.m. and was knocked down and contained as of 12:26 p.m., Black said. Firefighters were working to extinguish flames within the burn area, he said.
Residents were asked to avoid Roosa Avenue, Schnieder Park and the Animas River Trail to allow firefighters to work.
Black said the fire extended into some cottonwood and willow trees.
mhollinshead@durangoherald.com
