News

Vallecito Fire

The Vallecito Fire was remapped this morning at 222 acres; it is now 25% contained. Firefighters continued to strengthen the dozer line along the southern end of the fire. They also completed most of the dozer line south of Hummingbird Lane, providing a defensive fire break on the north side of the fire. The line should be completed Sunday afternoon. There is still some smoke coming from hot spots inside the fire’s perimeter. Helicopters continued dropping water on hot spots near the perimeter.

Thursday night’s infrared flight measured the Vallecito fire at 201 acres.

Two heavy airtankers and two helicopters will be available to assist firefighters today with retardant and water drops as needed.  The 20-person Zuni initial attack crew was released this morning and is being reassigned to the Little East fire.

Today, firefighters will be looking for an area near Ho Hum Drive and Hummingbird Lane where they can build some indirect line in the event the fire was to move north.

Firefighters made good progress on the Vallecito Fire Thursday. The fire is estimated at 230 acres and is now 5% contained. An infrared flight tonight will provide a more accurate acreage as well as help pinpoint hot spots.

Durango – October 18, 2012, 10:30 am - Air resources - including heavy air tankers, single engine air tankers and helicopters - have been ordered to help fight area wildfires.  Weather permitting, these could be arriving by late morning.  The Vallecito Fire is burning about one mile west of Vallecito Reservoir in the San Juan National Forest and has been threatening the Lake Vista Estates subdivision on the west side of Vallecito Reservoir.  The Vallecito Fire is estimated at 200 to 250 acres.  The Little East Fire, estimated at 80 to 100 acres, is burning on private and BL

DURANGO – October 16, 2012, 2:20 pm - Durango Interagency Fire Dispatch reports several new wildfires, apparently the result of lightning holdovers from last Friday, when the area received 9,800 ground strikes during a storm that resulted in little moisture.  The most active fire at this time is the Vallecito Fire, which is estimated at 40 to 50 acres about one mile west of the southern end of Vallecito Reservoir up Jack Creek in the National Forest.  The fire was reported at noon today; its origin is not known but suspected to be lightning that has been smoldering since la

DURANGO - October 9, 2012, 9:30 am.  The Goblin Fire in the Animas Canyon north of Durango is now estimated at 60 acres, burning on the east side of the Animas Canyon two miles south of Needleton near the confluence with Cascade Creek. The fire, which was reported on Saturday, is believed to have been started by the Durango to Silverton Narrow Gauge Train. Three U.S.