Wildfire - The Durango Herald

Fire near Purgatory Resort listed at 6 acres

Firefighters report limited growth Thursday

DATE: Oct 8, 2020 | CATEGORY: Local News

Wildfire breaks out near Purgatory Resort

2 air tankers, more than 20 firefighters begin initial attack

DATE: Oct 7, 2020 | CATEGORY: Local News

Statewide fire ban expires, but still no campfires in Southwest Colorado

U.S. Forest Service remains in Stage 1 restrictions

DATE: Oct 7, 2020 | CATEGORY: Local News

What’s going on with hazy skies in Southwest Colorado?

Health department says smoke, Weather Service says clouds

DATE: Oct 2, 2020 | CATEGORY: Local News

Colorado’s 3rd largest recorded wildfire continues to spread

DENVER – Winds fueled a northern Colorado wildfire that emergency officials said has damaged structures and moved beyond barriers established by firefighters to slow the fire’s spread. ...

DATE: Sep 27, 2020 | CATEGORY: Regional News

‘It’s a fantastic view of it all’; fire tower turns 50

42-foot-tall lookout serves as home, early detection system for wildfire activity

DATE: Sep 23, 2020 | CATEGORY: Local News

416 Fire turned out to be a healthy burn for the forest, new studies find

Satellite imagery, ground surveys show robust regrowth of vegetation

DATE: Aug 27, 2020 | CATEGORY: Southwest Life

Bear rescued in East Canyon Fire released back into the wild

CPW believes animal is well-equipped to survive

DATE: Aug 25, 2020 | CATEGORY: Local News

Polis taps Colorado National Guard to help with wildfires

DENVER – Gov. Jared Polis activated the Colorado National Guard on Friday to help with several wildfires burning across the state. The governor’s office said a Black Hawk helicopt...

DATE: Aug 23, 2020 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Wildfire smoke from across the West flowing into Southwest Colorado

Low air quality increases risk of COVID-19

DATE: Aug 20, 2020 | CATEGORY: Local News

Firefighters battle small lightning-caused fire near Rockwood, north of Durango

Additional blazes expected in next day or two on federal lands

DATE: Aug 17, 2020 | CATEGORY: Local News

La Plata County lifts all fire restrictions

Move follows lead of other agencies

DATE: Aug 4, 2020 | CATEGORY: Local News

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

Fire near Purgatory Resort listed at 6 acres

Wildfire breaks out near Purgatory Resort

Statewide fire ban expires, but still no campfires in Southwest Colorado

What’s going on with hazy skies in Southwest Colorado?

Colorado’s 3rd largest recorded wildfire continues to spread

‘It’s a fantastic view of it all’; fire tower turns 50

416 Fire turned out to be a healthy burn for the forest, new studies find

Bear rescued in East Canyon Fire released back into the wild

Polis taps Colorado National Guard to help with wildfires

Wildfire smoke from across the West flowing into Southwest Colorado

Firefighters battle small lightning-caused fire near Rockwood, north of Durango

La Plata County lifts all fire restrictions

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