Upper Pine River Fire Protection

10/14/2026

At 3:30 pm today Upper Pine River Fire responded to a report of a pickup and horse trailers over the side of the road on CR 501A in the Granite Peaks area. Crews arrived to find a pickup and horse trailer 35 feet down the embankment. Two people and three horses involved. The two people were transported to Mercy. A call for animal control for the horses returned as unavailable. Upper Pine’s mechanic responded with a horse trailer. The horses luckily were not hurt but were with people from Elizabeth, CO. We are boarding the three horses at an Upper Pine’s staff members barn until a family member can arrive from Elizabeth with a trailer to get them home.

10/08/2026

The Upper Pine River Fire wildland crews took down three beetle infested trees at the entrance to Los Ranchitos on CR 240. The trees posed a big risk to the entrance and emergency egress for Los Ranchitos. They were particularly complex trees as the stood in a family cemetery. The trees were brought down with precision not damaging any head stones. Family with relatives in the cemetery were there along with key Los Ranchitos homeowners.

10/07/2026

Upper Pine Fire will be burning a few smaller slash piles on the Forest Lakes escape route. It may be smoky at times.

10/07/2026

There will be pile burning in the Forest Lakes area today

10/06/2026

09/24/2026

In Iowa in 1942 it was a good year, the year Dennis Hillyer was born. Migrating to SW Colorado with his new wife Becky in 1977. From the farm fields of Iowa to the w**d strewn lot in Gem village it was still tractor country. Dennis and SWAg built a business with a reputation based on tractors and implements. Dennis also served on the Upper Pine Fire Board from 1982 to 1991. Congressman Hurd had already secured the funding for the community room so when we started to prepare specs on signage seemed only fitting that we name the community after the Hillyers in honor of Dennis and Becky. The Hillyers have been here for Bayfield for some many things, sponsoring school athletic programs, Dennis and Becky volunteering at the Pine Valley Heritage Society….the SWag banner can be found all over SW Colorado. While we wish there was an Oliver Tractor amongst all those Kubotas it is an honor to place a name on the Community Room that represents a family that has planted roots here in Bayfield.

09/17/2026

09/17/2026

Remediation work on Vallecito Creek holding up well with the increased rainfall!

09/16/2026

⚠The National Weather Service is predicting heavy rains in the region over the next several days, including issuing a flood watch for La Plata County.
La Plata County has sandbags available at no charge for county residents to assist property owners in protecting their property from potential flood damage.

The sandbags are available at three locations and are provided on a self-serve fill basis; shovels may be provided but residents are advised to bring their own in case none are available. Sand and bags are available 24 hours a day at:

•La Plata County Fairgrounds (north lot near the rodeo arena), 2500 Main Ave., Durango
•Upper Pine Fire Protection District Station 1, 75 South Clover Dr., Bayfield
•Ignacio High School, 315 Ignacio St, Ignacio

Rainfall could cause mudslides and loosen other large objects and debris throughout the region and drivers should be aware of these potential road hazards. To report road damage, please call (970) 382-6413 or fill out a road repair request form on the La Plata County website at https://www.co.laplata.co.us/departments/road_and_bridge/repair_request_form.php

09/15/2026

Our sandbag filling station is open at Station 1, 75 S. Clover, Bayfield. What you see is what we have available right now. If needs arise over the next few days, we will work on getting more available! Please, everyone, stay safe with the coming rain! Flood Watch in effect until September 18th.