Wildfire - The Durango Herald

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

Building wildfire resiliency at Forest Lakes subdivision

More than 100 attendees receive crash course on how to protect their homes

DATE: May 6, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

What should Durango businesses do if there’s a wildfire?

La Plata County Office of Emergency Management encourages employers to sign up for CodeRED alerts

DATE: May 2, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local 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

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

Building wildfire resiliency at Forest Lakes subdivision

What should Durango businesses do if there’s a wildfire?

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