{"id":16749,"date":"2025-08-25T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/blue-ridge-fire-a-symptom-of-larger-problem\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T22:01:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T04:01:15","slug":"blue-ridge-fire-a-symptom-of-larger-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/blue-ridge-fire-a-symptom-of-larger-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue Ridge Fire a symptom of larger problem"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Tad
Tad Zaccard explains the fire mitigation work he\u2019s done around his property in Unit 3 of Forest Lakes subdivision north of Bayfield. The Blue Ridge Fire, which broke out near his home, was caused by human activity, officials say. For Zaccard, who has long warned of the risks in the area, it underscores concerns about unpermitted structures, illegal campfires and lax enforcement. (Scout Edmonson\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

BAYFIELD \u2013 The Blue Ridge Fire, which came dangerously close to disaster and forced the evacuation or pre-evacuation of 900 homes in the Forest Lakes subdivision, was caused by human activity, officials said.<\/p>\n

Although the official cause has not been released, investigators determined the fire started on private property where an unpermitted shack had been built, said Upper Pine River Fire Protection District Chief Bruce Evans.<\/p>\n

The Aug. 15 fire in Unit Three \u2013 a Forest Lakes Metropolitan District subdivision tucked into steep, densely wooded hills northeast of the community \u2013 underscores what some see as a larger problem: the lawless nature of the off-grid area and the fire risks that come with it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt can be a little bit like the Wild West up there,\u201d said La Plata County Commissioner Matt Salka.<\/p>\n

A growing population in a remote area<\/div>\n

Forest Lakes resident Tad Zaccard, who has lived in an off-grid cabin in Unit Three since 2015, has been sounding the alarm for years. He blames the fire on what he says is misleading real estate advertising that has attracted campers and part-time residents into a place unfit for development.<\/p>\n

According to Zaccard, in 2018, McCarty Excavation and Construction cut rough roads into the subdivision so buyers could access their property. The lots lack water, sewage and electric hookups and are accessible only by rocky, rutted dirt roads.<\/p>\n

\u201cEver since the Wells Group put out those advertisements saying that water taps were going to be supplied, the next thing you know, people kept coming, and campers kept pulling in,\u201d Zaccard said. \u201cI just kept seeing it get bigger and bigger, and things kept getting worse and worse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Wells
Wells Group advertisements for property in Forest Lakes Unit 3, from around 2018 claiming that water and sewer hookups are soon to be installed. That did not happen, and Forest Lakes Metro District has said there are no plans to do so. (Scout Edmonson\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

He recalled one incident when campers near his property built a large bonfire and let their children run through the woods carrying burning sticks. Alarmed, he called Evans, who maneuvered a fire truck up the narrow dirt road to extinguish the blaze. When Zaccard returned the next day, he found the fire still smoldering on a windy afternoon.<\/p>\n

For years, Zaccard warned that Unit Three was a fire waiting to happen, but many neighbors dismissed him as alarmist \u2013 and sometimes harassed him for speaking up.<\/p>\n

At the time of the Blue Ridge Fire, Evans said someone was living on private property where it started, with the lot owner\u2019s knowledge. That person had built a campfire in a fire ring, but it escaped and spread into the woods. The owner disputes anyone was living there, but Evans believes otherwise.<\/p>\n

\"The
The Forest Lakes Metropolitan District north of Bayfield. The Blue Ridge Fire on Aug. 15 threatened the community and resulted in the evacuations and pre-evacuations of more than 900 homes. (Scout Edmondson\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cTo me, a person sleeping and staying in a place, with all their possessions like in that instance \u2013 that\u2019s someone who\u2019s living there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe (Zaccard) predicted this,\u201d Evans said. \u201cHe had sent me numerous emails and documentation saying there are people with illegal fires in Unit Three. While a lot of other people have written him off as kind of kooky or strange, we listen to what his complaints are, and we\u2019re responding to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Under La Plata County\u2019s land-use code, development in Unit Three is prohibited because of the fire danger and lack of infrastructure. According to the Forest Lakes Metro District\u2019s website, the district \u201cwould not construct or guarantee the construction of any of the public improvements to be located within Unit Three\u201d and has \u201cneither short- or long-range plans to extend services into Unit Three.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t speak for why the Wells Group did that,\u201d said FLMD District Manager Corey Griffis. \u201cI know back in 2018 they were advertising with (the district providing utilities). Previous management finally got them to stop advertising with that wording with the help of the county.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zaccard said he built his cabin before the roads were cut in and followed county and metro district building codes. He also does meticulous wildfire mitigation on his property and follows fire bans \u2013 something he says many campers do not.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the problem \u2013 people,\u201d Zaccard said. \u201cThese are part-timers, a lot of them. And then you get real estate companies saying it\u2019s a great place to set up a campsite for the summer \u2013 now they\u2019re coming up here from New Mexico and they don\u2019t know, they don\u2019t care (about fire danger), because they\u2019re not from here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"For
For years, Tad Zaccard warned that Forest Lakes Unit Three, north of Bayfield, was a fire waiting to happen, but many neighbors dismissed him as alarmist \u2013 and sometimes harassed him for speaking up. (Scout Edmondson\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

He has repeatedly urged the county and the subdivision metropolitan district to address hazards, from narrow roads that hinder emergency response to property owners setting up unregulated summer camps. He has asked for signs warning against fire in heavily wooded areas and more attention to code enforcement.<\/p>\n

Although Zaccard was right about the danger, any sense of vindication was overshadowed by the seriousness of the situation \u2013 and his belief that the problem will continue to grow.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are cutting in these driveways unpermitted, which allows them to pull in camper after camper,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd it just keeps growing. It keeps growing because they\u2019re not properly permitting the roads.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A
A narrow dirt road used to access the lots in Forest Lakes Unit 3, north of Bayfield, is hard for emergency vehicles to use, delaying response times. (Scout Edmondson\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Evans agreed, saying Zaccard had used every tool at his disposal to raise the alarm. \u201cHe has exhausted just about every route of complaints that he possibly can, with no action,\u201d Evans said.<\/p>\n

Griffis said even the district does not want campers in Unit Three because of the fire risk.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be quite frank, we don\u2019t want the campers out there,\u201d he said. \u201cBut Forest Lakes doesn\u2019t have the right to tell folks that they can\u2019t be on their own property. So we deal with the county a lot, getting code enforcement and law enforcement out there to prevent people from squatting or starting fires.\u201d<\/p>\n

By law, people are allowed to camp on their property for up to 90 days, but the remoteness of Unit Three makes enforcement difficult, and the metro district lacks the authority to remove people, Griffis said. The responsibility, instead, falls to La Plata County code enforcement and the Sheriff\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s disgusting, actually, that all this has been allowed to happen illegally and unpermitted, and nobody\u2019s taken responsibility for it,\u201d Zaccard said.<\/p>\n

John Wells, owner of the Wells Group, pushed back against Zaccard\u2019s claims that his company is to blame. He noted that multiple brokerages sell land in Unit Three and said, \u201cIt\u2019s private property. People have the right to buy and sell it. We\u2019re not promoting camping, but we cannot control what people do with their property after they buy it.\u201d<\/p>\n

That contradicts past advertisements and even a recent Zillow listing posted by the Wells Group for a 12.4-acre plot on Jackalope Drive, near where the fire broke out. The description acknowledged the lack of utilities but described the land as a \u201cgreat place to set up a summer camp site, vacation spot.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked about the listing, Wells said he was unaware his company had promoted camping but planned to address such descriptions.<\/p>\n

\"\u201cIt\u2019s
\u201cIt\u2019s disgusting, actually, that all this has been allowed to happen illegally and unpermitted, and nobody\u2019s taken responsibility for it,\u201d said Tad Zaccard, longtime resident of Forest Lakes Unit 3, north of Bayfield. (Scout Edmonson\/The Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The area\u2019s lots, often sold in bulk after foreclosure or tax sales, have attracted buyers seeking inexpensive land \u2013 sometimes as little as $10,000 for three parcels. Some hope for future development and rising property values, while others see it as a cheap summer campsite.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, Phase Three doesn\u2019t have any covenants or a homeowners association. That\u2019s the crux of this thing,\u201d Wells said. \u201cWhen people complain to the metro district, they\u2019re told there\u2019s nothing the district can do. The burden falls on the county and, in cases of fire risk, the sheriff\u2019s department.\u201d<\/p>\n

No easy solution<\/div>\n

\"\u201cIt\u2019s
\u201cIt\u2019s private property. People have the right to buy and sell it. We\u2019re not promoting camping, but we cannot control what people do with their property after they buy it,\u201d said John Wells, president and owner of The Wells Group. (Scout Edmondson\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

County officials, meanwhile, say long-term responsibility lies with the Forest Lakes metro district.<\/p>\n

While the county has been aware of the dangers in Unit Three, its authority to enact long-term fixes is limited, Salka said. Until the Blue Ridge Fire, \u201cit was out of sight, out of mind \u2013 meaning it wasn\u2019t a hot topic,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The fire\u2019s short life, Evans added, was a matter of luck. Winds blew in the right direction to keep it from racing downhill into lower Forest Lakes, where hundreds more homes could have been destroyed. Upper Pine also had mutual aid from neighboring fire departments and air support from helicopters and tankers.<\/p>\n

\u201cForest Lakes accounts for about 21 or 22% of our tax base,\u201d Evans said. \u201cAnd if people burn down a subdivision like that and all you have left is pads or burned-out homes, people don\u2019t pay taxes on that stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The
The Blue Ridge Fire prompted the evacuation of homes on Hilltop Drive in the Forest Lakes subdivision Aug. 15. The fire was declared extinguished and evacuation and pre-evacuation notices were lifted Monday. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

County officials said the fire was a wake-up call. Unit Three is now a priority, but Salka emphasized that permanent solutions must come from the metro district.<\/p>\n

Code enforcement in the area is complaint-driven, and while the county responds when it can, many properties remain out of compliance because of infrastructure limitations and a slow legal process.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Zaccard wishes that we could put stops to everything right away, right there and then \u2013 which would have included him \u2013 but we can\u2019t,\u201d Salka said. \u201cIt would be an overreach of the government.\u201d<\/p>\n

For now, the county will continue providing code enforcement and sheriff\u2019s coverage, but any change to Forest Lakes\u2019 service plan would require a public process before the Board of County Commissioners, Salka said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll keep nudging and inquiring about what Forest Lakes has heard from its attorney and what options they might pursue,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re open to working with the district\u2019s board and director on potential revisions.\u201d<\/p>\n

The addition of fire warning signs in the area is one solution Salka has encouraged over the years.<\/p>\n

\"A
A wildfire prevention sign in Forest Lakes Metro District, north of Bayfield. No fire prevention signage has been put up in the Unit 3 subdivision. (Scout Edmondson\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

For Zaccard, it\u2019s too little, too late. He is tired of his complaints going unaddressed, and the continued harassment from his neighbors.<\/p>\n

Also, he\u2019s been unable to convince the county that his home was permitted by the \u201cold guard\u201d of the county planning department.<\/p>\n

So, Zaccard said he\u2019s headed to Arizona. \u201cI can\u2019t live like that anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

jbowman@durangoherald.com<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n

sedmonson@durangoherald.com<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Unpermitted structures, illegal campfires and lax enforcement blamed for heightened wildfire risks in Forest Lakes subdivision <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16750,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[2064,28,1370,84],"naviga_topic":[],"class_list":["post-16749","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-camping","tag-headlines","tag-upper-pine-river-fire-protection-district","tag-wildfire"],"acf":[],"author_name":"dh_admin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16749","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16749"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16749\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20370,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16749\/revisions\/20370"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16750"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16749"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16749"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16749"},{"taxonomy":"naviga_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/naviga_topic?post=16749"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}