Wildfire - The Durango Herald

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

Groundbreaking forest health program may come to Southwest Colorado

Pilot project would make critical improvements in targeted areas

DATE: Oct 17, 2019 | CATEGORY: Southwest Life

Cow Creek Fire roars to life east of Ridgway

Smoke highly visible to drivers on U.S. Highway 550

DATE: Oct 16, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

La Plata County sheriff appointed to state fire board

Sean Smith wants to focus on funding issues around wildfire management

DATE: Oct 10, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Firefighters build containment lines at Salida-area wildfire

SALIDA â€“ More than 800 firefighters continue to work on containment lines for a central Colorado wildfire that has charred nearly 10 square miles of national forest land. The fi...

DATE: Oct 6, 2019 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Lost Canyon wildfire south of Dolores is contained

Fire south of Dolores triggered mutual aid, air tankers

DATE: Oct 5, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Year of renewal: Hermosa Creek watershed shows signs of recovery after 416 Fire

Forest health, water quality and recreation on the mend

DATE: Oct 3, 2019 | CATEGORY: Southwest Life

Court records: D&SNG started nearly 50 fires leading up to 416 Fire

Federal trial expected to last eight to 10 days

DATE: Sep 24, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Prescribed burns under way in San Juan National Forest

Aerial ignitions planned on 2 blazes east of Durango

DATE: Sep 15, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

D&SNG says 416 Fire lawsuit should be thrown out

Railroad: Government has no standing to seek firefighting costs

DATE: Sep 10, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Columbine Ranger District starts prescribed burns east of Bayfield

11,400-acre area could produce heavy morning smoke

DATE: Sep 7, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local 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

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

Photos: Durango, Farmington girls basketball face off at DHSFarmington came away with a 49-45 win

Farmington came away with a 49-45 win

Photos: Running up an appetite on Thanksgiving

Update: Coal seam fire burns north of Dolores

Planned burn turned wildfire causes evacuations in Colorado

Groundbreaking forest health program may come to Southwest Colorado

Cow Creek Fire roars to life east of Ridgway

La Plata County sheriff appointed to state fire board

Firefighters build containment lines at Salida-area wildfire

Lost Canyon wildfire south of Dolores is contained

Year of renewal: Hermosa Creek watershed shows signs of recovery after 416 Fire

Court records: D&SNG started nearly 50 fires leading up to 416 Fire

Prescribed burns under way in San Juan National Forest

D&SNG says 416 Fire lawsuit should be thrown out

Columbine Ranger District starts prescribed burns east of Bayfield

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