News

Lightner Fire:  Due to rugged terrain and high temperatures, firefighters were unable to get the fire fully contained today. The 90-acre fire is estimated to be 75% contained. The fire will be turned over to a Type 4 Incident Commander on Saturday. One 20-person crew, one tactical water tender, and one safety officer will continue working on strengthening the containment line and extinguishing hot spots.

Friday, June 29, 2012  4:30 pm

DENVER— Friday, June 29, 2012 — Gov. John Hickenlooper announced today the appointment of Suzanne Carlson to serve as a district court judge in the 6th Judicial District (La Plata, Archuleta and San Juan counties.) Carlson will fill a judgeship created pursuant to HB12-1073, “Number of Judges in Judicial Districts,” sponsored by Rep. J. Paul Brown and Sen. Ellen Roberts.

MANCOS, Colo. - The blanket of cooler, more humid air that has dampened activity at the Weber Fire for the last three days has lifted. Fuels are drying, which resulted in an increase in fire activity overnight. The fire was actively burning on the slopes below the communication site on the north end of the fire. Overnight, firefighters monitored fire activity while they continued to prepare for burnout operations.

The fire acreage held steady yesterday at 9,279 acres, with 45 percent containment.

UPDATE ON AREA WILDFIRES RESULTING FROM RECENT LIGHTNING STRIKES

Friday, July 29, 2012, 10:55 a.m. 

DURANGO– The Durango Interagency Fire Dispatch Center reports that several small fires started by lightning strikes in the past few days are now contained and/or controlled. Three lightning strikes in the southern HD Mountains southeast of Bayfield are under control, and a small fire on Devil Mountain west of Pagosa Springs is reported out.

TWO NIGHT CLOSURES PLANNED

RETAINING WALL WORK ON US 550 RED MOUNTAIN PASS

OURAY COUNTY – Colorado Department of Transportation contractor Midwest Rockfall will require at least two night closures of US 550 Red Mountain Pass for upcoming drainage pipe work. The drainage work is part of the project to repair two crib walls (retaining walls) under the southbound lane approximately 1.5 miles north of snow shed. The work will be completed by September 25, 2012.

6/28/2012 By: Melanie B. Mazur and Denise Hess

According to the Pine River Times, a fire broke out Thursday afternoon east of CR 334 in the southern edge of the HD Mountains. Two helicopters, slurry bombers and other planes attacked the blaze from the sky as ground crews tried to make their way up the steep terrain.
After more than an hour of aerial attacks, the fire appeared to be diminishing.
Los Pinos fire said they had a crew on the site, but jurisdiction has been transferred to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

June 28, 2012,  7 p.m.

Weber Fire Containment Increases to 45 Percent

Lightner Fire Update – June 28, 4:00 PM

An additional two 20-person crews were on scene today to help with building fire line on the Lightner Fire, bringing the total number of personnel to 90. The fire did become more active mid-afternoon and increased an additional five acres in size to 85 acres. The helicopter has assisted firefighters throughout the day with water drops as needed.  An update on containment will not be available until this evening.

Non-residents are asked not to drive down County Road 208 due to the fire traffic on the road.

Weber Fire Update

11:00 a.m. - Thursday 6/30/12

MANCOS, Colo. - Firefighters continue to make progress on containing the Weber Fire near Mancos, Colorado. More mop-up has been completed along burned areas on the fire perimeter, bringing the containment up to 35 percent. The acreage has been revised to 9,279 acres due to more accurate mapping. There was minimal fire growth yesterday.