Wildfire

Archuleta County

Wildfire west of Pagosa Springs prompts evacuations

number of homes threatened, none lost to 120-acre blaze

June 29, 2023 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer

Community

Wildfire south of Durango grows to 126 acres

to 100 additional firefighters expected to respond to blaze

June 29, 2023 • Christian Burney — Herald Staff Writer

416 Fire

Railroad sues insurance over 416 fire coverage

fire and subsequent mudslides one incident or two? That’s the $25 million question

June 20, 2023 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer

Dolores

Environmentalists sue over logging plans in San Juan National Forest

Salter project, located on 22,346 acres near Dolores, was approved in 2021

June 15, 2023 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer

Labor

U.S. senators urge long-term wildland firefighter pay increase

Inflation and tough housing market help justify higher paychecks

June 15, 2023 • Mina Allen — Herald Staff Writer

Colorado Legislature

A wildfire camera bill repeatedly fails. Secret survey results at the Capitol might explain why

Lawmakers on both sides of aisle praise legislation, but then it goes nowhere

June 7, 2023 • Scott Franz — KUNC

Archuleta County

Prescribed burn north of Bayfield expected to wrap up today

1,300 acres are being treated in the Beaver Meadows and First Notch areas

May 30, 2023 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer

Durango Fire Protection District

Durango Air Tanker Base opens for fire season

Agencies gathered Wednesday for training on aerial resources

May 25, 2023 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer

Farmington

Brush burns increase risk of wildfire

permits are required within Farmington city limits, county regions

May 23, 2023 • David Edward Albright — Herald Staff Writer

Animas City

Animas City Mountain burning expected to resume Friday

smoke expected as Bureau of Land Management burns larger area

May 11, 2023 • Shane Benjamin — Herald Staff Writer

Fire

Animas City Mountain prescribed burn underway

years of planning, a controlled wildfire is just what the doctor ordered

May 8, 2023 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer

Durango Fire Protection District

Wildfire evacuation drill grows in third year

Residents in five subdivisions practiced leaving homes in an emergency situation

April 28, 2023 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer

Fire

Smell smoke? It’s probably just prescribed burns

management agencies to begin seasonal fuels reduction

April 25, 2023 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer

Durango Fire Protection District

Hermosa outbuilding engulfed in flames after wind ignites ember from brush burn

afternoon fire leads to $3,000 in damages

April 17, 2023 • Garret Jaros — Herald Staff Writer

Headlines

Colorado wildfire investigators would get funding, trained dogs under new bill

2022 Colorado Public Radio investigation prompts legislation

April 12, 2023 • Veronica Penney — Colorado Public Radio

Fire

Fire chiefs urge prevention and legislation to protect Colorado communities

Officials call for more staffing, controlled fires and awareness

April 8, 2023 • Sarah Mattalian — Herald Staff Writer

La Plata County Colorado

Colorado counties respond to wildfire season’s start

planners are trying anything and everything to make 2023 safer

April 3, 2023 • Olivia Prentzel and Michael Booth — The Colorado Sun

Colorado

Bennet starts a conversation to emphasize forest health

a subcommittee hearing, the senator advocated for fire prevention and forest restoration

March 31, 2023 • Sarah Mattalian — Herald Staff Writer

Environment

Colorado representative, senators want $60B to reduce fire risk, restore Western land

Protect the West Act is sponsored by Sens. Bennet and Hickenlooper and Rep. Jason Crow

March 1, 2023 • Shannon Mullane — The Colorado Sun

Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Dog-attacking mountain lion in Nederland was healthy, hadn’t recently fed on dogs

lion had gunshot wounds on its head and chest after a man killed it as it attacked his dog, officials…

February 16, 2023 • Tracy Ross — The Colorado Sun

Drought

Drought, plague and fire: What the Rio Grande National Forest is up against

There’s no certainty swaths of beetle-bitten trees will recover over burn scars

February 1, 2023 • Danielle Prokop — Source NM

Colorado Legislature

Colorado lawmakers look to AI to detect wildfires earlier

Proposal would create a $2 million pilot program to station cameras on mountaintops in high-risk locations

January 26, 2023 • AP

New Mexico

Recovering from wildfire, New Mexico bill passes first test

Measure would clear the way for zero-interest loans

January 25, 2023 • Susan Montoya Bryan — The Associated Press

Fire

Colorado inmate fire crew slashes brush in La Plata County

grant means crew will conduct mitigation along 83 miles of area roads

January 23, 2023 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer