Wildfire - The Durango Herald

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

Couple found dead as wildfire destroys New Mexico homes

More than 200 residences charred near Ruidoso

DATE: Apr 14, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

Firefighters battle small wildfire along river in Pueblo

PUEBLO – Firefighters in Pueblo were battling a wildfire on Sunday that charred about 20 acres of a grassy, wooded area along the Arkansas River and forced evacuations in at least one neighb...

DATE: Apr 11, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Louisville allows fire victims to rebuild under older codes

LOUISVILLE – The Louisville City Council in suburban Denver voted Tuesday night in favor of allowing residents whose homes were significantly damaged or destroyed in Colorado’s most destruct...

DATE: Apr 5, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Charges dropped against Danish man in Colorado wildfire

DENVER – A judge on Monday dismissed criminal charges against a Danish man accused of starting a Colorado wildfire that destroyed about 140 homes in 2018 after he was repeatedly found unable...

DATE: Apr 4, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Rainbow Gathering planned in Colorado sparks fire concerns

DENVER (AP) – The Rainbow Gathering of the Tribes plans to return to Colorado this summer to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The weekslong confab that draws tens of thousands of hippie campe...

DATE: Apr 2, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Forest Service to burn 1,500 acres near Vallecito Reservoir

Operations will depend on weather and firefighters, but could start as soon as April

DATE: Apr 1, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Residents return home after fleeing Boulder wildfire

Nearly 20,000 people who were forced to flee a wildfire in northern Colorado were back home Monday after firefighters were able to stop the spread of the fire at 190 acres. The fire that bro...

DATE: Mar 28, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

As drought outlook takes shape, preparations begin for wildfire season in Southwest Colorado

Dry and warm weather projected this summer

DATE: Mar 28, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Colorado wildfire forces evacuation orders for 19,000 people

Evacuation orders cover 8,000 homes

DATE: Mar 26, 2022 | CATEGORY:

D&SNG to settle civil lawsuit filed by local landowners, businesses

Details have yet to be released as sides finalize agreement

DATE: Mar 22, 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