The Durango Police Department has arrested Carl Dominic Allen on suspicion of starting a wildland fire Monday northwest of Durango Tech Center.
Allen, 28, was arrested for fourth-degree arson, meaning he knowingly or recklessly set a fire and allowed it to get out of control and placed property in danger, police spokesman Lt. Ray Shupe said Wednesday.
Allen was booked into the La Plata County jail Tuesday.
Allen camped in the undeveloped area, according to police. He dug a hole to put hot fire coals in. When wind picked up, it spread the coals and started the fire, police say.
The fire spread Monday afternoon to about one-quarter acre, according to officials with the Durango Fire Protection District, which responded to the fire at about 2 p.m. Three engines and about 18 firefighters responded, and the fire was contained by 4:45 p.m.
Fourth-degree arson is either a class 2 or 3 misdemeanor in Colorado.
Durango Fire spokeswoman Karola Hanks said Monday’s fire started about 30 feet from a tent site. It spread easily with the help of low humidity, high temperatures, drier-than-normal vegetation and wind gusts. Those conditions aren’t likely to change until the area gets repeated precipitation, she said. The National Weather Service predicts a chance of rain and snow for Durango from Thursday through Sunday, but even that likely will just offer a reprieve, Hanks said.
“The potential for a fire growing, and growing rapidly, is significantly higher” than normal for this time of year, Hanks said.
johnp@durangoherald.com
