Wildfires
Man accused of starting massive Logan Co. wildfire was welding in dry corn field, sheriff says
STERLING, Colo. – Charges have been filed against a man for allegedly starting the wildfire that burned more than 32,000 acres and killed hundreds of livestock across three Colorado counties in early March.
Patrick Svoboda, 39, faces fourth-degree arson and reckless endangerment charges in the fire. Fire investigators found that Svoboda had been welding a feed trough in a dry corn field on March 6, and sparks caught the field on fire.
The Logan County Sheriff’s Office noted that there were red flag warnings in place on that windy day, and that Svoboda’s alleged actions were “reckless.”
The sheriff’s office says it obtained a warrant for Svoboda’s arrest on April 19 and that he has since turned himself in.
The fire burned around 32,000 acres in Logan, Phillips and Sedgewick counties and killed hundreds of cattle and other livestock and wildlife.
The sheriff’s office had said on March 8 they had found the fire’s point of origin and that the landowners were cooperating.
Investigators with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation helped Logan County investigators determine that Svoboda was allegedly involved, though hundreds of fire and rescue personnel from multiple counties and cities in the area were involved in putting the fire down after three days.
“Watching neighbors helping neighbors, and strangers helping strangers has been remarkable, and that’s what makes it great to live in northeastern Colorado,” Logan County Sheriff Brett Powell said.
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State of emergency declared in Logan County amid fire that destroyed 4 homes
LOGAN COUNTY, Colo. – Logan County officials have declared a local emergency after a large brush fire destroyed four homes and charred more than 30,000 acres.
The emergency declaration means the incident has been turned over to the State of Colorado for the purpose of assistance and funding.
Crews continued to make progress Tuesday fighting the fire that prompted the evacuation of two schools and the pre-evacuation of several hundred homes Monday afternoon.
The fire was burning on more than 45 square miles and is roughly 80 percent contained.
The fire was called in just after 11:30 a.m. on Monday. Four homes and several outbuildings have been lost in the fire, and several livestock also perished.
The Logan County Office of Emergency Management said Tuesday that three of the homes lost were in Logan County, where the fire started Monday, and the other was in Phillips County.
One of three homes burned in the #LoganCountyWildfire. No injuries have been reported. pic.twitter.com/xLA8w8ypFI
— Jaclyn Allen (@jaclynreporting) March 7, 2017
Logan County spokesman Kyle Mouton said at 4:25 p.m. the fire was estimated at 25,000 acres. By 6:30 p.m. it had grown to 30,000 acres.
As of 7:45 p.m., the fire was approximately 90 percent contained but about two hours later, officials said the fire was just 50 percent contained due to flare-ups. Crews planned to stay on scene to fight the fire throughout the night.
SLIDESHOW: High winds, brush fire cause damage around Colorado
Another county spokesperson, Marilee Johnson, said about 900 pre-evacuation notices were sent out, mostly to people living east of County Road 49.
Fleming and Caliche High Schools were evacuated, Johnson said. The county said that Haxtun School evacuated to Lone Star School.
Interstate 76 is closed between Iliff and Crook, as 12 fire agencies are at the scene to battle the blaze.
An emergency evacuation center has been set up in Sterling at Emmanuel Baptist Church, located at 300 Ball Park Road.
Wind gusts in the area have reached more than 60 miles an hour Monday afternoon. The fire is one of several that have burned across the eastern half of Colorado Monday amid dry weather and high winds.
Donations
The wildfire has had a large impact on farmers and other agriculture professionals in the area. Farmers have lost livestock, buildings and fields, impacting their ability to care for their farms.
An immediate need for hay, feed, fencing and money. Donations can be taken to CHS Grainland in Haxtun. To call ahead, contact 970-520-3565.
For those wanting to send cash or a check, donations can be made out to the Colorado Farm Bureau Foundation to the attention of the Disaster Fund.
The address is 9177 E. Mineral Circle, Centennial, CO 80112. Click here for more.
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Men accused of starting Cold Springs Fire sentenced to work release, probation, restitution
BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. – The two men who pleaded guilty to arson charges for starting the Cold Springs Fire, which destroyed eight homes in the Nederland area in July, will have to pay restitution and serve work release time.
Jimmy Suggs and Zackary Kuykendall, both originally from Vinemont, Alabama, will have to serve two years of work release and four years of probation, in addition to the restitution.
The amount the two will have to pay for starting the fire will be determined in the next 90 days.
Both pleaded guilty to fourth-degree arson charges in November. The fire, which started on a windy day in July, eventually burned around 500 acres and eight homes. At least 1,000 others people were evacuated because of the fire.
Suggs, Kuykendall and a woman named Elizabeth Burdeshaw were camping in the area at the time and failed to put their campfire out all the way before leaving.
Burdeshaw pleaded guilty earlier this year to trespassing charges and was sentenced to three years of probation. Prosecutors said there was no evidence to prove she had anything to do with the campfire.
Both Suggs and Kuykendall were arrested near the evacuation site people were sent to because of the fire.
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2 homes, 5 other buildings lost in Junkins Fire; Type-I management team being brought in
CUSTER COUNTY, Colo. – A Type-I management team is being brought in to fight the Junkins Fire, which officials said Tuesday evening has so far burned 16,312 acres.
Junkins Fire spokeswoman Dawn Sanchez said at a 10 a.m. news conference on the fire that it is still 0 percent contained and the cause remains under investigation. The fire first started Monday and grew quickly throughout the day.
The fire remained 0 percent contained at 5:30 p.m.
A Type-I management team is en route to the fire and is expected to take over command of operations Wednesday morning, Sanchez said.
Two homes have been lost and five additional buildings have been so far lost in the fire, according to Custer County Sheriff Shannon Byerly.
The fire, which is burning in Pueblo and Custer counties, as well as on U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land, has forced people in 175 homes to evacuate in Custer County and people in 82 homes in Pueblo County to evacuate as well.
But 70 properties in Custer County are under pre-evacuation orders, as are a total of 2,500 people in Pueblo County.
Sanchez said power outages were reported across the area, but that the fire laid down overnight and that crews may be able to take some homeowners and ranchers in to see their property and livestock Tuesday.
There are no red flag warnings Tuesday, though some gusts of up to 20-25 miles per hour are expected.
A multi-mission aircraft is expected to fly over and map the fire later Tuesday, and officials said a better idea of the fire’s size should be expected by the evening.
There are two public meetings scheduled for Tuesday: the first will be held at 5 p.m. at the Custer County School’s west gym. The second will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Florence High School.
There are currently 114 personnel working on the fire, though that number is expected to change as the Type-I crews arrive.
The Colorado Department of Corrections is organizing donations for evacuees. Non-perishable food can be taken to the Custer County Share Center at 120 N. 3rd St. in Westcliffe, and monetary donations are being accepted at the First State Bank of Westcliffe in the Wet Mountain Fire Ladies Auxiliary Account.
Pueblo County Emergency Information and the Junkins Fire Facebook page are both providing updates as well.
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Evacuations ordered near Rampart Reservoir as fire sparks
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. – Evacuations have been ordered near Rampart Reservoir after a fire that sparked Monday grew quickly on the southwest side of the reservoir amid high winds and warm temperatures.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office ordered evacuations for areas near Shubarth Trail, Farish, Rampart Reservoir, and Rampart Range Road south of Loy Creek.
The sheriff’s office said the fire was around 25 acres in size as of 4:30 p.m. An image of the evacuation area can be seen below.
Evacuation polygon #RampartFire pic.twitter.com/kbV2cX1GtH
— EPCSheriff (@EPCSheriff) October 17, 2016
The sheriff’s office said 37 area residents were notified of the evacuations via a reverse calling system.
Several other fires are burning across Colorado Monday amid a period of above-average temperatures and high winds ahead of an incoming cold front. Red Flag Warnings have been issued for much of the area in and along the Rocky Mountains.
The Junkins Fire in southern Colorado has already grown to more than 13,000 acres Monday, officials said.
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Some Dog Head Fire evacuees begin to return home; fire 61 percent contained
Some residents of Torrance and Bernalillo counties who were forced to evacuate their homes because of the Dog Head Fire returned to their properties Tuesday morning as authorities eased some evacuation orders, and more are set to return Wednesday.
People living in Torrance County south of La Para were able to head home starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday. Some Bernalillo County residents are also being allowed home, though some people living near Chilili have not yet been allowed back.
Post-evacuation return plans from Bernalillo County can be found here. The Department of Health has also issued an outline of precautions people returning home need to take. Click here to view.
At a 4:30 p.m. community meeting, officials said remaining residents of Bernalillo and Torrance counties will be able to return home Wednesday morning except for people who live on Aceves Road, La Para or in Manzano Morning. Officials said the meeting will likely be the last.
Sheriff’s deputies, National Guard and state police officers are stationed along main roads to check people’s identification as they return home.
PNM also Tuesday morning began reconnecting power to 368 customers in the mandatory evacuation zone who have been without power since last Tuesday, when it was cut to help firefighters and avoid further sparks.
The company will start with customers near NM 14 and will work toward 217 and south toward Chilili.
The state says several road closures will remain in place Tuesday: Raquel Road from Escabosa south to the Bernalillo County line will be closed.
People in the northeastern evacuation areas will have to return from the northeast.
Gov. Susana Martinez announced Tuesday she has directed the state Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to begin its recovery plan. She toured several burned-out properties Tuesday.
Gov. Martinez said Monday some looters had been caught and will be prosecuted. National Guard members remain at the scene to prevent further looting.
There was some confusion about that statement Tuesday morning, as both Bernalillo County and Torrance County initially denied any arrests were made. But BCSD confirmed Tuesday afternoon there were people that had been in communication with Torrance County who told dispatch that there were four suspicious people in the area.
Torrance County did intervene and issued citations for obstruction, an official said Tuesday.
An updated map of hot spots and the perimeter of the fire as of early Monday can be seen below. If you’re on a mobile device, click here to view.
FIRE REACHES 61 PERCENT CONTAINMENT
The fire reached 61 percent containment by Tuesday night and is estimated at 17,912 acres.
Officials said Monday the fire was human-caused but said they are still investigating the exact cause. The fire has burned 24 homes and 21 other structures over the past week.
Officials said the 938 personnel currently working the fire will again work Wednesday to maintain the perimeter and mop up hot spots.
A fire official estimated Monday afternoon the fire has so far cost around $4.5 million.
Gov. Martinez announced Monday she has requested the Federal Emergency Management Agency to perform damage assessments to the affected communities in order to determine if any extra assistance will be needed.
Both the money estimate and the additional FEMA requests come on the heels of state of emergency declarations both by the state and Bernalillo County, which will free up federal and local funds to help fight the fire. The state of emergency declaration by the state means federal funds will cover 75 percent of costs associated with helping fight the fire.
Many Dog Head Fire evacuees will be allowed home Tuesday; fire 46 percent contained
Some residents who have been forced to evacuate their homes due to the Dog Head Fire will be allowed back to their homes beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday, as crews were able to bring the fire to 46 percent containment by just after nightfall.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department made the announcement Monday evening at a community meeting in Moriarty. Officials noted that there were no lives lost or serious injuries sustained in the fire, which drew a massive applause from the crowd.
Bernalillo County residents will be allowed back in beginning Tuesday morning. People living in Torrance County south of La Para will also be able to return home starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday. A re-entry pamphlet is available here with instructions on what people should do when they return to their property, as well as emergency and other resource contact information.
Sheriff’s deputies, National Guard and state police officers will be stationed along main roads to check people’s identification as they return home.
PNM also plans to start reconnecting power to residents starting at 6 a.m. Tuesday. Anyone using a backup generator is advised to turn it off by then if possible.
368 customers in the mandatory evacuation zone have been without power since last Tuesday, when it was cut to help firefighters and avoid further sparks.
The company will start with customers near NM 14 and will work toward 217 and south toward Chilili.
The state says several road closures will remain in place Tuesday: Raquel Road from Escabosa south to the Bernalillo County line.
People in the northeastern evacuation areas will have to return from the northeast.
Officials said some looters had been caught and will be prosecuted. National Guard members remain at the scene to prevent further looting.
FIRE ESTIMATED AT NEARLY 18,000 ACRES
The Dog Head Fire in the northern Manzano Mountains was estimated at just under 18,000 acres in size Monday night as crews were able to make significant headway into containing the fire, which sat at 46 percent containment at 9:30 p.m. It was only 9 percent contained at 8 a.m.
Monday afternoon, a fire official said the fire has so far cost around $4.5 million and said it was human-caused, and did not start as a prescribed burn. Officials have not said exactly how it started, but Monday was the first word that it was definitely human-caused.
New Mexico Gov. Martinez toured areas behind fire lines that burned last week, including several properties, Monday afternoon. She also announced she has requested the Federal Emergency Management Agency to perform damage assessments to the affected communities in order to determine if any extra assistance will be needed.
Both the money estimate and the additional FEMA requests come on the heels of state of emergency declarations both by the state and Bernalillo County, which will free up federal and local funds to help fight the fire. The state of emergency declaration by the state means federal funds will cover 75 percent of costs associated with helping fight the fire.
“Even as our state, local, and federal partners continue to move forward with our coordinated response around the clock to protect lives and property, it’s important for us to begin preparing for the aftermath as well, and this request is part of that process,” the governor said in a news release. “We will continue to look for all available resources at our disposal to assist the communities affected by the Dog Head Fire.”
The fire’s growth stagnated Sunday, when it grew only about 300 acres – a vast improvement over the days before, when it exploded thousands of acres due to low humidity levels and high heat.
Fire officials say the 995 crew members working the fire will work Tuesday to maintain its perimeter and continue mop-up efforts.
Higher humidity levels helped slow growth Sunday, but drier air could make hot spots more active Monday, officials said.
As the wind blows in from the southeast Monday, the east side is expected to be the most active side of the fire once again Monday. But the wind could switch to blow in from the east later in the day, which could threaten lines on the western side of the fire.
The New Mexico Department of Health said Monday it expects smoke from the fire to be less severe in coming days.
An updated map of hot spots and the perimeter of the fire as of early Monday can be seen below. If you’re on a mobile device, click here to view.
Twenty-four homes and 21 structures have burned in the fire so far, though none have burned since late last week.
Officials say the main focus for crews at this point is still suppressing the fire. It currently sits at 17,891 acres.
Expo New Mexico said Monday morning it was hosting more than 50 animals at the state fairgrounds, which started accepting animals needing shelter from the fire late last week.
An Albuquerque woman who spent much of her life in Chilili has made shirts emblazoned with the community’s name and satellite coordinates. She is selling them for $30, $20 of which will go to the Los Vecinos shelter and the families staying there. There are also similar shirts for Escabosa and the Chilili Hotshots. Click here to see and buy the shirts.
Resources for evacuees and those wanting to help can be found below:
Infrared mapping shows Dog Head Fire at 16,751 acres; more National Guard being brought in
The Dog Head Fire raging in the northern Manzano Mountains has grown to 16,751 acres, according to the latest infrared mapping done by fire officials.
The latest evacuation map from Bernalillo County can be found by clicking here. Any residents who have to return to an area under mandatory evacuation orders will have to check with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department beforehand and will have to show ID.
Gov. Susana Martinez announced at a community meeting in Tijeras during the afternoon that more National Guard service members were being brought in to help fight the fire. There had been 40 dispatched to the fire as of Thursday night.
So far the fire, in its fourth day, destroyed 24 homes and 21 other buildings in Bernalillo and Torrance counties. Many of the lost homes were in Torrance County, according to fire officials.
There is still no containment and 628 personnel have responded. Officials at the main command post say close to 1,000 firefighters are expected to be at the fire by Friday night.
The transition to a Type-1 crew, which includes the most-experienced crews, will likely occur Saturday.
The blaze continues its easterly movement and is 12 miles due west of McIntosh and 11 miles southwest of Edgewood. It is holding on south and west of State Highway 337 and ½ mile west of Chilili.
The Sandia Ranger District has closed lands, roads and trails south of I-40 in the ranger district. A full list of trail and road closures in the area can be found here.
Below is a map of the boundaries of the fire and hot spots as of 7:06 a.m. Friday. If you’re on a mobile device, click here.
COMMUNITY MEETINGS HELD IN TIJERAS AND ESTANCIA
Two community meetings will be held this evening. The first was held at Roosevelt Middle School in Tijeras at 4:30 p.m. The gym where the meeting was held was almost at capacity just before the meeting started.
Gov. Martinez announced that more National Guard troops are being brought in.
Officials also reiterated to people who had evacuated but are concerned about looting at their homes that about 20 deputies and 30 National Guard members are patrolling the area and protecting homes. Officials said there have been no reported burglaries thus far.
The East Torrance Soil & Water Conservation District Complex Building at 700 10th St. in Estacia hosts another meeting at 7 p.m. That meeting was originally scheduled to take place at the Estancia Courthouse but changed locations.
EVACUATIONS STILL IN PLACE
In Bernalillo County, mandatory evacuations remain in effect from the Anaya Road-Highway 337 junction southward to the Torrance County line. The evacuation zone includes Chilili, Escobosa, Los Seis Hermanos Estates, Marianette Ranch Estates, Yrisarri and Pondreosa Pines.
Voluntary evacuations are in place for the area two miles east of the mandatory evacuation zone.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department wrote on Twitter NM 337 remains closed at 217. Deputies completed the evacuation in the area but will stay on patrol.
Torrance County also has mandatory evacuations from the county line south to State Highway 55 and from Highway 337 to the west.
“Don’t refuse a mandatory evacuation. You have to leave your home. Your life cannot be replaced,” New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez said Thursday after surveying the fire by air. “Don’t take any of those unnecessary risks because you are also putting others at risk.”
Several resources are available for residents and evacuees. Click here for that information.
On Thursday, the National Weather Service implemented an air quality alert for central New Mexico, including the Albuquerque metro area. Dr. Yohannes Tesfaigz from Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute discussed the danger with KOB.
CONGRESSWOMAN UPDATED ON FIRE SITUATION
U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who represents the First Congressional District, visited the Dog Head Fire Command Center at Estancia High School Friday morning. She also attended a co-operating agency meeting at the county courthouse.
“We’ve got federal resources to deal with the fire and continue to manage this emergency,” she said. “Now we need the other resources because that federal effort, that declaration, is not going to replace property or livestock.”
Lujan Grisham said she plans to spearhead the effort for federal assistant in tackling the fire. That includes her staff from Albuquerque and Washington to the area for support.
She praised the firefighters for their efforts.
“They’ve really minimized the loss of complete homes, which is incredible,” she said. “But nonetheless your property – farmers, ranchers or homesteaders – is damaged and destroyed.”
VOLUNTEERS SET UP TO HELP
A full list of people offering services for people and animals can be found here. It also has needs for various shelters for people wanting to donate goods or services.
At the Los Vecinos shelter in Tijeras, the Southern Baptist Convention organized a portable kitchen to provide evacuees with food. The kitchen can serve 5,000 people, but volunteers expect only around 100 Friday night for a spaghetti dinner.
The kitchen and volunteers will be at the shelter providing meals throughout the weekend. On Sunday, they will determine if they are needed beyond that.
“We’re able to help people that are in need,” volunteer Barbara Long said. “And so, you know, we’re providing a basic need that they have. But we’re also here if they need to talk.”
The New Mexico State Fairgrounds in Albuquerque is now open to accept all livestock evacuations, including fowl.
Dozens of homes, structures lost as Dog Head Fire grows to 16,000+ acres
Editor’s Note: The story below is all the updates from Thursday.Updates beginning Friday can be found here.
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ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Twenty-four homes and 21 other structures had burned as of Thursday night in Bernalillo and Torrance counties as the Dog Head Fire grew to more than 16,000 acres during the day in the northern Manzano Mountains.
The fire remains uncontained and mandatory evacuations remain in place for several parts of Bernalillo and Torrance counties. Continue reading