Wildfire - The Durango Herald

N.M. governor to the feds: Stop igniting prescribed burns in windy, dry conditions

Hermits Peak Fire was set April 6 and quickly grew out of control because of ‘unexpected erratic winds in the late afternoon’

DATE: May 3, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

Animas City Mountain prescribed burn delayed

Dry and windy weather will likely postpone the preventive measures until at least fall

DATE: May 3, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Bulldozers, aircraft used to fight fire near New Mexico city

More than 1,000 firefighters backed by bulldozers and aircraft battled the largest active wildfire in the U.S. on Saturday after strong winds pushed it across some containment lines and clos...

DATE: Apr 30, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

La Plata County holds large-scale drill to prepare for eventual wildfire

Multiday simulation includes mock evacuations of hospital, subdivisions

DATE: Apr 30, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Gusty winds, dryness could fan spring wildfires again

ALBUQUERQUE – More of the dry, windy weather that helped fan rare spring wildfires from New Mexico to Nebraska is expected to threaten the progress that firefighters have made in controlling...

DATE: Apr 28, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Added crews making progress on Midwest, Southwest fires

OMAHA, Neb. – Beefed up fire crews made major progress on a large prairie fire burning near the Nebraska-Kansas line on Tuesday and lighter winds allowed firefighters to keep flames from adv...

DATE: Apr 27, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

‘Fire weather watch’ issued for much of Southwest Colorado

Air quality could decline as smoke drifts this way from Arizona and New Mexico

DATE: Apr 25, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Wildfires tear across several states, driven by high winds

OMAHA, Neb. – Firefighters across the country are battling growing wildfires as tinder-dry conditions and high winds whip up flames from Arizona to Florida — including a wildfire in rural so...

DATE: Apr 25, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Peak Colorado wildfire season may start earlier and last longer

Projections suggest peak of the fire season will start in mid-May

DATE: Apr 24, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

‘A very chaotic situation’: Crews tackle growing wildfires

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Destructive fires in the U.S. Southwest have burned dozens of homes in northern Arizona and put numerous small villages in New Mexico in the path of danger, as wind-fueled...

DATE: Apr 22, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

5,000 under evacuation orders as New Mexico wildfire rages

Douglas Siddens’ mother was among those who made it out with just the clothes on her back when a deadly, wind-fueled wildfire ripped through a mountain community in southern New Mexico. The ...

DATE: Apr 16, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

Prescribed burn planned for Animas City Mountain

Preparations will begin mid-April and trails will close during the wildfire operations just north of Durango

DATE: Apr 14, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Photos: Wrestling at Durango High SchoolDurango High School boys wrestling beat Bayfield High School Tuesday night

Durango High School boys wrestling beat Bayfield High School Tuesday night

Photos: Where there's smoke there's firefightersDurango firefighters take advantage of the old River City Hall building for training

Durango firefighters take advantage of the old River City Hall building for training

Photos: Durango plays Montezuma-Cortez in boys, girls high school basketballDurango girls and boys basketball teams defeat Montezuma-Cortez at DHS

Durango girls and boys basketball teams defeat Montezuma-Cortez at DHS

Year in photos: A look back at Southwest Colorado in 2024Each year brings some of the new and some of the old – breaking news and cherished traditions. It is the people, their emotions, different cultures and varied forms of entertainment that make for impactful images. Add to that Southwest Colorado’s gorgeous scenery, abundant wildlife and range of weather events, and you have the makings for stunning photos. We hope you enjoy Photo Editor Jerry McBride’s photos from 2024.

Each year brings some of the new and some of the old – breaking news and cherished traditions. It is...

Montezuma County DA Christian Hatfield charged with DWICharges come 16 weeks after crash near Farmington, New MexicoMontezuma County District Attorney Christian Hatfield was charged Friday with driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs 16 weeks after he crashed his SUV on U.S. Highway 64 outside Bloomfield.The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office charged Hatfield, 59, with petty misdemeanor charge of DWI and an open container in connection to the Aug. 30 single-car crash.The charges come after results from a blood test by the New Mexico Department of Health Scientific Laboratory showed alcohol and a drug in Hatfield’s body after the crash.

“The results show that at the time of the blood draw, which was approximately eleven hours after the time of the crash due to medical issues, were 0.05 g/100 ml of Ethanol and 0.04 mg/L of Zolpidem (Ambien). Both Ethanol and Ambien are Central Nervous System Depressants,” the law enforcement report states.Two vials of blood were taken from Hatfield at 1:33 p.m. Aug. 30, which was more than 12 hours after the crash occurred about 1 a.m. Those vials were received by the New Mexico Department of Health Scientific Laboratory at 10:26 a.m. Oct. 11, which was six weeks after the crash, according to records from the lab.An investigation into the blood warrant by The Journal newspaper in Cortez, Colorado, showed that the blood sample sat in a refrigerator at the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office until Oct. 3, because paperwork to send it to the state laboratory was not processed.“I think it’s a non-prosecutable case because of all the errors made by law enforcement,” said Arlon Stoker, a high-profile defense attorney secured by Hatfield to fight the charges.

The charges made by the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office are “based on the observations made by law enforcement officers on scene and the presence of intoxicating drugs and liquors in Christian's blood,” according to the report that was given to The Journal by the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government.Amanda Lavin, legal director for NMFOG, assisted The Journal in accessing public records from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office in Aztec. The records had been redacted, leaving out Hatfield’s name and information about the blood warrant filed in San Juan County Magistrate Court.Public records requests by The Journal and the Tri-City Record went unresolved for 14 weeks.The Journal requested body camera footage and lapel camera video on Sept. 3.The Tri-City Record requested any and all warrants, investigative reports and laboratory reports as well as photos, lapel cam videos and dash cam videos on Oct. 23.On Dec. 9, Lavin made the same requests.

The Journal received access to photos and videos in an email on Dec. 19, and Lavin, after making a legal argument for unredacted information, received the full report Dec. 19 and was advised that charges would be forthcoming.The report detailing the crash states that Hatfield was found “unresponsive and barely able to stand” about 1 a.m. Aug. 30 near the intersection of U.S. Highway 64 and County Road 5099.Investigators and medics noted a “pungent” odor of alcohol coming from Hatfield, and investigators found “an open 12-ounce can of Mexican Lager with residual liquid inside,” an “empty wine glass,” and a “bottle of Ambien prescribed to Christian,” according to the report.The affidavit for search warrant for blood submitted by sheriff’s deputy Avery Killifer states he had an “opinion that the defendant was driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a controlled substance.” The deputy “placed the defendant under arrest” at the time, but Hatfield was taken to San Juan Regional Medical Center, because of “extensive injuries.”A summons was issued for Hatfield, and an arraignment is set for 8:30 a.m. Jan. 8 in Aztec Magistrate Court.

Charges come 16 weeks after crash near Farmington, New Mexico

Photos: Wreaths Across America honors fallen veteransDurango residents on Saturday honor those who served their country

Durango residents on Saturday honor those who served their country

Photos: Skyhawks men’s and women’s basketball Fort Lewis College men’s and women’s basketball lost to Regis on Saturday

Fort Lewis College men’s and women’s basketball lost to Regis on Saturday

Demons defeat Bobcats 62-47 on Friday at DHS

Photos: Durango, Farmington girls basketball face off at DHSFarmington came away with a 49-45 win

Farmington came away with a 49-45 win

Photos: Running up an appetite on Thanksgiving

N.M. governor to the feds: Stop igniting prescribed burns in windy, dry conditions

Animas City Mountain prescribed burn delayed

Bulldozers, aircraft used to fight fire near New Mexico city

La Plata County holds large-scale drill to prepare for eventual wildfire

Gusty winds, dryness could fan spring wildfires again

Added crews making progress on Midwest, Southwest fires

‘Fire weather watch’ issued for much of Southwest Colorado

Wildfires tear across several states, driven by high winds

Peak Colorado wildfire season may start earlier and last longer

‘A very chaotic situation’: Crews tackle growing wildfires

5,000 under evacuation orders as New Mexico wildfire rages

Prescribed burn planned for Animas City Mountain

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