Wildfire - The Durango Herald

Forest restoration project could bolster timber industry

Creative solutions sought for small, damaged trees in Southwest Colorado

DATE: Jan 10, 2020 | CATEGORY: Local News

Judge’s recommendation: Lawsuit against D&SNG for 416 Fire costs should proceed

Railroad wants government’s claim for $25M to fight blaze thrown out

DATE: Dec 30, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Forest Service announces pile burns for Dolores Ranger District

Burning could continue through winter

DATE: Nov 19, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Two fires burn 3 acres each in Upper Pine district, chief says

The Upper Pine River Fire Protection District responded Saturday to two fires that drained resources in the small agency in eastern La Plata County. Both fires were contained by 4...

DATE: Nov 16, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Fire-ravaged forests get help from pine cone collectors

Seeds collected to plant in scorched areas

DATE: Nov 10, 2019 | CATEGORY: Southwest Life

Cabin fire northeast of Durango under investigation

Blaze torched several acres of wildland near Aspen Trails subdivision

DATE: Nov 9, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Two cabins destroyed by fire northeast of Durango

Crews build fire line, expect to fully extinguish in two days

DATE: Nov 5, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Brush fire south of Cortez slows traffic on U.S. 160/491

Fast-moving fire threatens several homes

DATE: Nov 1, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Despite freezing temps, wildfire danger is high in Southwest Colorado

Dead grasses, strong winds and dry conditions raise risk

DATE: Nov 1, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Wildfire starts in HD Mountains, southeast of Bayfield

Fire investigators say blaze is human-caused

DATE: Oct 23, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Update: Coal seam fire burns north of Dolores

Underground fire has been burning since summer 2018

DATE: Oct 20, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Planned burn turned wildfire causes evacuations in Colorado

FORT COLLINS – Firefighters are working to contain a wildfire that began as a controlled burn and is now threatening about 50 homes in northern Colorado. Residents were ordered to...

DATE: Oct 17, 2019 | CATEGORY: Regional News

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