By Jenny Kane
The Farmington Daily Times
FARMINGTON, N.M. — Just over the state border, firefighters began to harness the more than 8,300-acre Weber Fire near Mancos, Colo., on Monday.
The fire began Friday evening at about 6 p.m., growing substantially throughout the weekend into a more than 7,000-acre fire that has yet to destroy any homes. It destroyed one outbuilding.
“There’s been some great saves,” said Fire Information Officer Beth Hermanson.
No injuries have been reported, Hermanson said.
The fire was 10 percent contained Monday evening and was making less progress than it had in the past few days.
About 300 firefighters battled the fire during the weekend and into Monday, including a handful from San Juan County, said Chris Shay, captain for the San Juan County Fire Department.
Fire crews from across the region are joining the effort, including crews from South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, and central and southern New Mexico.
“Colorado is so pushed on resources right now,” Hermanson said.
About eight substantial wildfires were active in Colorado late Monday, discounting the web of smaller fires stretched across the state elsewhere.
In the southwestern Colorado corner alone, firefighters have had several fires to juggle in the past few days.
The 350-acre Stateline Fire near Durango, Colo., was 50 percent contained on Monday.
“They’re making good progress,” said Fire Information Officer Pam Wilson, who said firefighters mainly were cleaning up after the fire Monday.
The Stateline Fire destroyed one home Saturday.
More than 160 firefighters responded to the fire, which included both Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Affairs land near U.S. Highway 550.
The Stateline Fire is hoped to be fully contained by Tuesday, said Wilson. No cause is yet known.
Another fire began in Chimney Rock, near Colorado Highway 151, on Monday after a power line went down in Cabezon Canyon, said Ann Bond, spokeswoman for the San Juan National Forest.
It was reported as a 1-acre fire around 2 p.m. Monday, threatening three homes. The entire Chimney Rock Archaeological Area was evacuated.
The fire grew to about 2 acres before firefighters had it mostly contained, Wilson said.
“They were able to use resources from the other fires, so that was good,” she said.
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