Wildfire - The Durango Herald

Firefighters to burn slash piles near Durango city limits

Residents asked to avoid calling 911 to report smoke

DATE: Dec 12, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Working with ‘good fire’

Fire managers in Southwest Colorado are changing they way they respond to wildfires

DATE: Dec 4, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Mancos Conservation District to receive $2.48 million federal grant

The grant, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is a ‘game-changer’ for the small district

DATE: Nov 29, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Boebert touts legislative wins that Biden vows to veto

Bills, amendments and funding requests pass House

DATE: Nov 10, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Durango Fire Marshal to shape wildfire building code on state board

Karola Hanks was nominated to serve as chair of the Wildfire Resiliency Code Board

DATE: Oct 28, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Colorado’s latest tool to fight forest fires: Mushrooms

Infusing slash and wood chips on vast forest floors with mycelium could dampen fuel and improve soil quality, enthusiastic researchers say.

DATE: Oct 26, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Two wildfires – one active, one stagnant – burn near Pagosa Springs

One blaze caused by lightning; cause of other fire undetermined

DATE: Oct 24, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Colorado Senators push for permanent pay increase for federal firefighters

Michael Bennet, John Hickenlooper joined 11 other senators in urging action on pay increases for wildland federal firefighters as temporary increases face a rapidly approaching expiration date

DATE: Sep 28, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Prescribed burns on 27,600 acres of San Juan National Forest scheduled for this fall

Conditions appear to be ‘really promising’

DATE: Sep 5, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Fire restrictions lifted across Southwest Colorado

Montezuma County restrictions remain in place

DATE: Aug 31, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Where there’s ‘smoke,’ there’s not always fire

Durango firefighters say ‘smoke scares’ not uncommon this time of year

DATE: Aug 21, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Tropical storm pushes wildfire smoke into Southwest Colorado

Monsoonal moisture expected to return midweek

DATE: Aug 21, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

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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