Wildfire - The Durango Herald

Chris Mountain Fire, west of Pagosa Springs, nearly 50% contained

Firefighters focus on burnouts, establishing fire lines

DATE: Jul 7, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Hot weather, strong winds likely to drive wildfire this week west of Pagosa Springs

Chris Mountain Fire grew to 459 acres, zero percent contained as of Monday

DATE: Jul 3, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

How to have a backcountry campfire in Colorado

The short answer is: Don’t. But if you do, here are some expert tips

DATE: Jun 30, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Wildfire west of Pagosa Springs prompts evacuations

Small number of homes threatened, none lost to 120-acre blaze

DATE: Jun 29, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Wildfire south of Durango grows to 126 acres

Up to 100 additional firefighters expected to respond to blaze

DATE: Jun 29, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Railroad sues insurance over 416 fire coverage

Were fire and subsequent mudslides one incident or two? That’s the $25 million question

DATE: Jun 20, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Environmentalists sue over logging plans in San Juan National Forest

The Salter project, located on 22,346 acres near Dolores, was approved in 2021

DATE: Jun 15, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

U.S. senators urge long-term wildland firefighter pay increase

Inflation and tough housing market help justify higher paychecks

DATE: Jun 14, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

A wildfire camera bill repeatedly fails. Secret survey results at the Capitol might explain why

Lawmakers on both sides of aisle praise legislation, but then it goes nowhere

DATE: Jun 7, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Prescribed burn north of Bayfield expected to wrap up today

1,300 acres are being treated in the Beaver Meadows and First Notch areas

DATE: May 30, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Durango Air Tanker Base opens for fire season

Agencies gathered Wednesday for training on aerial resources

DATE: May 25, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Brush burns increase risk of wildfire

Burn permits are required within Farmington city limits, county regions

DATE: May 23, 2023 | CATEGORY: Tri-Cities

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Photos: People’s MarchAbout 300 people take to the street on Saturday in Durango

About 300 people take to the street on Saturday in Durango

Photos: Fort Lewis College basketballWomen’s and men’s basketball teams take on South Dakota Mines

Women’s and men’s basketball teams take on South Dakota Mines

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

Chris Mountain Fire, west of Pagosa Springs, nearly 50% contained

Hot weather, strong winds likely to drive wildfire this week west of Pagosa Springs

How to have a backcountry campfire in Colorado

Wildfire west of Pagosa Springs prompts evacuations

Wildfire south of Durango grows to 126 acres

Railroad sues insurance over 416 fire coverage

Environmentalists sue over logging plans in San Juan National Forest

U.S. senators urge long-term wildland firefighter pay increase

A wildfire camera bill repeatedly fails. Secret survey results at the Capitol might explain why

Prescribed burn north of Bayfield expected to wrap up today

Durango Air Tanker Base opens for fire season

Brush burns increase risk of wildfire

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