Schwachheim Fire tops 1,000 acres near Trinidad borderlands

The Schwachheim Fire was listed at 1,003 acres with 0% containment on April 15, rose to 1,012 acres and 36% containment on April 17, and reached 1,582 acres and 90% containment by April 20 in the Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Area southeast of Trinidad, after moving across dry grass, canyon country and pinon-juniper slopes along the Colorado-New Mexico border. By April 19, containment had climbed to 50% before improving further the next day. For Las Animas County residents, the fire carried immediate consequences for smoke, back-road travel and the ability of local crews to stay available for another call if conditions worsened.

The fire was about seven miles northeast of Raton, New Mexico, where critical fire weather, erratic winds, steep terrain and shifting conditions made suppression difficult. Closures and restrictions around Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Area were part of the response as crews worked to keep the fire from pushing farther into the borderlands that many Trinidad-area drivers, ranchers and recreating families use every day.

Phil Daniels was incident commander, and the Colorado Incident Management Team provided its last update before the incident transitioned back to a local Type 4 team. A photo tied to the incident came from the Hoehne Fire Protection District, and Colorado Springs Fire Department Brush 3 received a resource order for the fire. Stage 2 fire restrictions were also in effect across Las Animas County, including Trinidad, Aguilar, El Moro, Cokedale, Jansen and Hoehne, while statewide fire restrictions were in force in New Mexico.