Wildfire – The Durango Herald

Fire chiefs urge prevention and legislation to protect Colorado communities

Officials call for more staffing, controlled fires and awareness

DATE: Apr 7, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Colorado counties respond to wildfire season’s start

Fire planners are trying anything and everything to make 2023 safer

DATE: Apr 3, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Bennet starts a conversation to emphasize forest health

In a subcommittee hearing, the senator advocated for fire prevention and forest restoration

DATE: Mar 31, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Colorado representative, senators want $60B to reduce fire risk, restore Western land

The Protect the West Act is sponsored by Sens. Bennet and Hickenlooper and Rep. Jason Crow

DATE: Mar 1, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Dog-attacking mountain lion in Nederland was healthy, hadn’t recently fed on dogs

The lion had gunshot wounds on its head and chest after a man killed it as it attacked his dog, officials say

DATE: Feb 16, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Drought, plague and fire: What the Rio Grande National Forest is up against

There’s no certainty swaths of beetle-bitten trees will recover over burn scars

DATE: Feb 1, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado lawmakers look to AI to detect wildfires earlier

Proposal would create a $2 million pilot program to station cameras on mountaintops in high-risk locations

DATE: Jan 26, 2023 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Recovering from wildfire, New Mexico bill passes first test

Measure would clear the way for zero-interest loans

DATE: Jan 24, 2023 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

Colorado inmate fire crew slashes brush in La Plata County

State grant means crew will conduct mitigation along 83 miles of area roads

DATE: Jan 23, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

FEMA hints it might lift 25% cap on tree reimbursements for northern NM fire victims

Officials still finalizing rules, mulling changes to claims procedures

DATE: Dec 19, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

Infrastructure money arrives in Colorado via U.S. Forest Service

Funds to be used for fire mitigation and watershed restoration

DATE: Nov 18, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Columbine Ranger District invites comment on proposed ecological and recreation project

Plans would involve work on a 7,100-acre area just north of Durango

DATE: Oct 12, 2022 | 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

Fire chiefs urge prevention and legislation to protect Colorado communities

Colorado counties respond to wildfire season’s start

Bennet starts a conversation to emphasize forest health

Colorado representative, senators want $60B to reduce fire risk, restore Western land

Dog-attacking mountain lion in Nederland was healthy, hadn’t recently fed on dogs

Drought, plague and fire: What the Rio Grande National Forest is up against

Colorado lawmakers look to AI to detect wildfires earlier

Recovering from wildfire, New Mexico bill passes first test

Colorado inmate fire crew slashes brush in La Plata County

FEMA hints it might lift 25% cap on tree reimbursements for northern NM fire victims

Infrastructure money arrives in Colorado via U.S. Forest Service

Columbine Ranger District invites comment on proposed ecological and recreation project

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