Wildfire – The Durango Herald

San Juan National Forest wildland firefighter injured en route to assignment

Mike Fincham was traveling to a wildfire when he suffered a medical event

DATE: Jul 24, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

With six months on the job, Durango’s new fire marshal is busy as ever

Stephen Rinaldi is placing an emphasis on process improvement, community connections

DATE: Jul 16, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

After a wet June, dry conditions kick off July

Durango saw second-wettest June since 2000

DATE: Jul 1, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Forest Service creates 400-acre containment zone for small fire near Pagosa Springs

Firefighters are using lightning-caused blaze to help reduce fuels

DATE: Jun 13, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Two New Mexico wildfires exceed 1,000 acres

Forecasters warn of increased risk Memorial Day Weekend

DATE: May 24, 2024 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

How did a wildfire east of Bayfield set land managers up for success?

On a tour of Dry Lake Fire burn area, forest partners saw firsthand the benefits of fire

DATE: May 24, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Wildfire smoke prompts air quality alert for much of Southwest Colorado

Areas that could be impacted include Telluride, Ouray, Silverton, Lake City, Creede and others

DATE: May 23, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Firefighters grow Spruce Creek Fire to 1,644 acres

Forest officials hope to burn through Friday if weather allows

DATE: May 21, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Air tanker base opens for what fire official say could be another active wildfire season

Fly-in a chance for first responders to familiarize themselves with various craft

DATE: May 20, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Crews hope to expand wildfire near Dolores to 4,000 acres

Spruce Creek Fire has burned 10 acres in an area prepped for prescribed burn

DATE: May 17, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Prescribed burn blamed for hazy skies across parts of Southwest Colorado

Firefighters burned about 1,130 acres Thursday in Boggy Draw area

DATE: May 9, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

4-acre fire contained near mobile home park west of Durango

About 40 mobile homes were placed on pre-evacuation notice in Lightner Creek area

DATE: May 7, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Next ›

Photos: Parade launches 2024 Connie Mack World Series in FarmingtonFans line street as players march on Main Damp, overcast weather cooled off the crowd lining Main Street on Friday morning for the 2024 Connie Mack World Series Parade. The hourlong parade began shortly after 10 a.m. in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

Fans line street as players march on Main

Photos: ‘Mini Takes the States’ tour stops in DurangoHundreds of Mini Cooper vehicles occupy Fort Lewis College on Sunday; Participants began the journey in Albuquerque and will finish in Seattle

Hundreds of Mini Cooper vehicles occupy Fort Lewis College on Sunday; Participants began the journey in Albuquerque and will finish in Seattle

Photos: Boxing returns to DurangoAnimus on the Animas: 1st Annual Durango Boxing Classic at the Durango Main Mall on Saturday

Animus on the Animas: 1st Annual Durango Boxing Classic at the Durango Main Mall on Saturday

Photos and video: Going for the gold by devouring piesContestants try their best to win the Oscar’s Pie Eating Contest on Friday in Durango

Contestants try their best to win the Oscar’s Pie Eating Contest on Friday in Durango

Photo: Fireworks light the sky in DurangoDurango celebrates Independence Day on Thursday night

Durango celebrates Independence Day on Thursday night

Photos: Working with woodLocal craftsman uses wood joinery, rather than nails or screws to construct homes and other structures

Local craftsman uses wood joinery, rather than nails or screws to construct homes and other structures

2024 Fourth of July Parade draws crowd Thursday in downtown Durango

Photos: Downtown Durango hosts Fourth of July ParadeDowntown sidewalks were full for Thursday’s celebration

Downtown sidewalks were full for Thursday’s celebration

Durango Rotary Club, Parks and Recreation department host Independence Day events

Law enforcement conducts active threat training at Park Elementary SchoolResidents may see and hear police activity Thursday and Friday

Law enforcement agencies across Southwest Colorado sent officers to participate in active threat training this week at Park Elementary School in Durango. Those in the neighborhood can expect police vehicles parked on the premises, officers in tactical gear conducting exercises inside and outside the school, and signs advising that training is in progress. The sounds of shouting, airsoft weapons and the popping of a starter pistol will also be audible near the school, said Karla Sluis, spokeswoman for Durango School District 9-R.Sluis said that members of the school district’s safety department have gone door-to-door with flyers notifying residents around Park Elementary School about the training.

Hosted by the Durango Police Department and the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, this week’s voluntary training invited officers from law enforcement agencies across a five-county region of Southwest Colorado encompassing La Plata, Archuleta, San Juan, Montezuma and Dolores counties.

La Plata County Sheriff’s Office deputy Durango Police Department Deputy Mike Latham, lead instructor for this week's training, said Wednesday and the first half of Thursday were mostly preparatory, teaching officers the school’s layout and devising scenarios, whereas the latter half of Thursday and Friday residents should anticipate some noise as active threat scenarios play out.

Latham said active threat training teaches officers proper protocol during active threat scenarios, especially in densely populated areas where they have become increasingly common.Park Elementary School is not the only Durango School District facility law enforcement has conducted active threat training. Latham said schools lend themselves well to this sort of training because, “It gives us all kinds of doors to work on, different rooms, different scenarios we can run. We can pretend it’s a mall with nice big corridors, we can even pretend it’s an outdoor area in the gymnasium.”Latham has participated in active threat training multiple times in the past and described the drills as exhilarating and nerve-wracking. He said one of the training’s main goals is teaching officers how to manage stress and remain calm with lives on the line.

“I take a pulse oximeter in the morning and get a baseline on their heart rates,” Latham said. “And sometimes, just before they’re about to engage a threat, I say ‘Timeout.’ Put it (the oximeter) on there, and their heart rate’s skyrocketed to 140, 150, 160 just in training.”

Latham said throughout his career active threat training has evolved to become safer for officers and fall in line with increasingly professional police standards.“When I first started we were just running into halls and rooms hoping for the best,” Latham said. “Now the tactic is still to get there, still stop the taking of lives, but tactics are much better than they were 20 years ago.”

Residents may see and hear police activity Thursday and Friday

San Juan National Forest wildland firefighter injured en route to assignment

With six months on the job, Durango’s new fire marshal is busy as ever

After a wet June, dry conditions kick off July

Forest Service creates 400-acre containment zone for small fire near Pagosa Springs

Two New Mexico wildfires exceed 1,000 acres

How did a wildfire east of Bayfield set land managers up for success?

Wildfire smoke prompts air quality alert for much of Southwest Colorado

Firefighters grow Spruce Creek Fire to 1,644 acres

Air tanker base opens for what fire official say could be another active wildfire season

Crews hope to expand wildfire near Dolores to 4,000 acres

Prescribed burn blamed for hazy skies across parts of Southwest Colorado

4-acre fire contained near mobile home park west of Durango

Videos & Photos

Search Directory Plus

Most Popular

Most Recent

Ballantine Communications, Inc.

Contact Us

Find Us

Log In