Wildfire - The Durango Herald

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

Animas City Mountain burning expected to resume Friday

More smoke expected as Bureau of Land Management burns larger area

DATE: May 11, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Animas City Mountain prescribed burn underway

After years of planning, a controlled wildfire is just what the doctor ordered

DATE: May 8, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Wildfire evacuation drill grows in third year

Residents in five subdivisions practiced leaving homes in an emergency situation

DATE: Apr 28, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Smell smoke? It’s probably just prescribed burns

Land management agencies to begin seasonal fuels reduction

DATE: Apr 25, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Hermosa outbuilding engulfed in flames after wind ignites ember from brush burn

Sunday afternoon fire leads to $3,000 in damages

DATE: Apr 17, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Colorado wildfire investigators would get funding, trained dogs under new bill

2022 Colorado Public Radio investigation prompts legislation

DATE: Apr 12, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Fire chiefs urge prevention and legislation to protect Colorado communities

Officials call for more staffing, controlled fires and awareness

DATE: Apr 7, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Colorado counties respond to wildfire season’s start

Fire planners are trying anything and everything to make 2023 safer

DATE: Apr 3, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Bennet starts a conversation to emphasize forest health

In a subcommittee hearing, the senator advocated for fire prevention and forest restoration

DATE: Mar 31, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Colorado representative, senators want $60B to reduce fire risk, restore Western land

The Protect the West Act is sponsored by Sens. Bennet and Hickenlooper and Rep. Jason Crow

DATE: Mar 1, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

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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

Durango Air Tanker Base opens for fire season

Brush burns increase risk of wildfire

Animas City Mountain burning expected to resume Friday

Animas City Mountain prescribed burn underway

Wildfire evacuation drill grows in third year

Smell smoke? It’s probably just prescribed burns

Hermosa outbuilding engulfed in flames after wind ignites ember from brush burn

Colorado wildfire investigators would get funding, trained dogs under new bill

Fire chiefs urge prevention and legislation to protect Colorado communities

Colorado counties respond to wildfire season’s start

Bennet starts a conversation to emphasize forest health

Colorado representative, senators want $60B to reduce fire risk, restore Western land

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