Wildfire – The Durango Herald

Record heat after wet spring elevates Colorado wildfire risk

National organization predicts fire danger will be ‘above normal’ for Southwest Colorado in August

DATE: Jul 20, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

La Plata County implements fire restrictions

Stage 1 rules take effect Monday morning

DATE: Jul 7, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Chris Mountain Fire, west of Pagosa Springs, nearly 50% contained

Firefighters focus on burnouts, establishing fire lines

DATE: Jul 7, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Hot weather, strong winds likely to drive wildfire this week west of Pagosa Springs

Chris Mountain Fire grew to 459 acres, zero percent contained as of Monday

DATE: Jul 3, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

How to have a backcountry campfire in Colorado

The short answer is: Don’t. But if you do, here are some expert tips

DATE: Jun 30, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Wildfire west of Pagosa Springs prompts evacuations

Small number of homes threatened, none lost to 120-acre blaze

DATE: Jun 29, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Wildfire south of Durango grows to 126 acres

Up to 100 additional firefighters expected to respond to blaze

DATE: Jun 29, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Railroad sues insurance over 416 fire coverage

Were fire and subsequent mudslides one incident or two? That’s the $25 million question

DATE: Jun 20, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Environmentalists sue over logging plans in San Juan National Forest

The Salter project, located on 22,346 acres near Dolores, was approved in 2021

DATE: Jun 15, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

U.S. senators urge long-term wildland firefighter pay increase

Inflation and tough housing market help justify higher paychecks

DATE: Jun 14, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

A wildfire camera bill repeatedly fails. Secret survey results at the Capitol might explain why

Lawmakers on both sides of aisle praise legislation, but then it goes nowhere

DATE: Jun 7, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Prescribed burn north of Bayfield expected to wrap up today

1,300 acres are being treated in the Beaver Meadows and First Notch areas

DATE: May 30, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

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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

Record heat after wet spring elevates Colorado wildfire risk

La Plata County implements fire restrictions

Chris Mountain Fire, west of Pagosa Springs, nearly 50% contained

Hot weather, strong winds likely to drive wildfire this week west of Pagosa Springs

How to have a backcountry campfire in Colorado

Wildfire west of Pagosa Springs prompts evacuations

Wildfire south of Durango grows to 126 acres

Railroad sues insurance over 416 fire coverage

Environmentalists sue over logging plans in San Juan National Forest

U.S. senators urge long-term wildland firefighter pay increase

A wildfire camera bill repeatedly fails. Secret survey results at the Capitol might explain why

Prescribed burn north of Bayfield expected to wrap up today

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