In addition to cars parked illegally overnight, the Sheriff\u2019s Office has been dealing with illegal campfires and large amounts of trash being left around the campground.<\/p>\n
The Durango Fire Protection District responded to a fire Oct. 30 that scorched a campsite, about 20 feet by 30 feet in size, and required about 630 gallons of water to douse, said Fire Marshal Karola Hanks. And firefighters responded to another campsite fire Nov. 6, but residents were able to extinguish that one themselves, for the most part, with fire extinguishers provided by the Sheriff\u2019s Office, she said.<\/p>\n
Burke said the Sheriff\u2019s Office has provided tools and industrial-sized trash bags for the residents to begin a cleanup effort. Neighbors In Need Alliance, a homeless advocacy group, also has been providing propane for propane stoves, so residents can stay warm without needing campfires, he said.<\/p>\n
Michelle Taylor, who has a car and has been staying at the homeless camp, said she got lucky early Monday. She was visiting her daughter Sunday night in Durango, and her grandson convinced her to stay the night. Otherwise, she would have been parked on La Posta Road and likely been towed, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLuckily, I missed all that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She planned to stay at the camp Monday night, but she said she would park elsewhere.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe shouldn\u2019t have had them parked out here anyway,\u201d she said. \u201cThey warned us.\u201d<\/p>\n