Max Muro and Ryley Jarvis watch a helicopter pick up more water to fight the 358 Fire. About five homes were evacuated and two subdivisions were placed on pre-evacuation notice Friday night for a wildland fire northeast of Durango.
Max Muro and Ryley Jarvis watch a helicopter pick up more water to fight the 358 Fire. About five homes were evacuated and two subdivisions were placed on pre-evacuation notice Friday night for a wildland fire northeast of Durango.Mary Shinn/Durango Herald

Residents near the “358 Fire” were nervously preparing to evacuate Friday afternoon and watching the smoke from the blaze near Sunrise Lane and County Road 245, northeast of Durango.

The fire was reported Friday afternoon, and it had consumed between 30 and 40 acres by 7:30 p.m., said Bruce Evans, chief of the Upper Pine River Fire Protection District. It was started by someone shooting a gun recreationally at a private gun range. The shooter was not using any special ammunition considered especially fire prone, he said.

For Hallie Whitney and Rob Cowen, residents of Enchanted Forest, the fire and sound of planes and helicopters flying overhead brought back memories of the Missionary Ridge Fire in 2002, which came just feet from their shed.

“We are kind of mentally and emotionally prepared because of what happened before,” Whitney said.

The couple was packing up their belongings when they were informed by La Plata County Sheriff’s deputies that their subdivision was on a pre-evacuation order. They were anticipating the fire might come toward Enchanted Forest based on the wind.

The couple is conscious of the fire threat, and Cowen has been working to clear brush and trees and other fire fuels from around his house for the last three weeks.

“We parted with some really nice trees,” he said.

Peggy Wilson was also packing up her belongings, selecting mostly irreplaceable items, like photos. Her home, near the intersection of county roads 240 and 243, was about 3 miles from the fire, and its plume of smoke was clearly visible.

Even before the sheriff’s deputies visited her home to tell her about the pre-evacuation order, leaving was on her mind.

“I was thinking about packing up. I could see how close the smoke was,” she said.

Max Muro and Ryley Jarvis could hear the planes passing over Muro’s house off County Road 502 and drove to the road blockade at County Road 245 to watch the helicopters and planes fight the fire.

“You could see all the smoke and everything from my window,” Muro said.

However, his home was not expected to be threatened by the blaze, he said.

Pre-evacuation orders were still in effect for several hundred homes including Enchanted Forest and Tween Lakes on Friday night.

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Pre-evacuation tips

For those who received a pre-evacuation notice, these steps can improve your safety and expedite departure should an evacuation become necessary.
Inside the house
Gather medications
Pack a bag with clothing and essentials
Shut off air conditioning and fans
Shut all windows and doors before leaving
If you have time, gather paperwork and photographs that cannot be replaced
Outside the house
Gather flammable items and bring them inside (patio furniture, children’s toys, door mats, trash cans, etc.)
Move propane BBQ appliances away from structures.
Connect garden hoses to outside water valves or spigots for use by firefighters.
Fill water buckets and place them around the house.
Don’t leave sprinklers or water running; this can affect critical water pressure
Leave exterior lights on so your home is visible to firefighters in the smoke or darkness of night.
Back your car into the driveway with vehicle loaded and all doors and windows closed. Carry your car keys with you.
Animals
Locate your pets and keep them nearby.
Prepare livestock for transport and plan to move them to a safe location early
Pack food and medications for your pets