Photo by Keith R. Cerny An antique farm rake is shown in the foreground as Alamosa Fire Captain Ron Rogers douses a pile of debris close to a home on the southeast edge of a large brush fire Wednesday just West of North River Road. More photos on page 9.

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threatened but undamaged



By ERIC MULLENS

ALAMOSA — Firefighters from the Alamosa Fire Protection District and the Mosca / Hooper Volunteer Fire Department responded midday Wednesday to a controlled burn that got out of control during the windy afternoon.

The fire was contained to the George Wolfe property located at 3971 CR 108 S. Alamosa Fire Chief Don Chapman said the fired burned approximately 100 acres of chico brush, and brush and pasture land. He said at one point the flames came within 30-feet of the Wolfe residence but the home remained undamaged in the fire.

Colorado State Patrol Trooper Jared Creel was the first emergency responder on the scene and he went to the home to ensure all of the residents were out and safe. During this time as the flames neared the dwelling Creel suffered minor smoke inhalation and was treated and released on-scene by Alamosa Ambulance personnel. CSP Capt. George Dingfelder said Wednesday afternoon that Creel was doing fine following his treatment at the scene.

The fire was reported at 11:52 a.m. and firefighters were at the location for three hours according to Chapman.

Twelve firefighters and six fire trucks responded to the blaze from Alamosa. Mosca / Hooper sent eight firefighters and four vehicles to the scene.

No other injuries were reported.

Fire officials throughout the Valley remained concerned with high wind conditions in the forecast for the next few days. While the San Luis Valley has not been under a RED FLAG warning so far this year, Chapman said those decisions have been made by weather officials based on the moisture present in the mountains. “The Valley floor remains very, very dry,” he said.

Farmers and ranchers who need to burn barrow ditches and fields in preparation for planting and irrigation are urged to check with the National Weather Service and their local county law enforcement agencies to make sure no fire danger restrictions have been put into place.