Las Animas County

05/27/2026

Las Animas County Temporary Road Closure

County Road 69.0 and Railroad Ave in Starkville, Colorado, will be closed on Friday, May 29, 2026, for railroad track repair. Use County Road 69.0 south and County Road 69.1, the south railroad crossing, as an alternate route. Please see the detour map for more details.

If you have any questions regarding this road closure, please contact the Las Animas County Road & Bridge Department at 719-846-2931.

05/20/2026

Job opportunity for an Accounting/Admin Assistant at Las Animas County, applications may be obtained at the Las Animas County website at: lasanimascounty.colorado.gov
or Trindad Work Force Center or https://cdle.colorado.gov

Boasting a population of just under 15,000, Las Animas county is located in the southeastern portion of Colorado. The county takes its name from the Mexican Spanish name of the Purgatoire River, originally called El Río de las Ánimas Perdidas en el Purgatorio, which means "River of the Lost Souls...

05/04/2026

These helicopters were part of the firefighting air support for the recent Poitrey Fire (Kim area). One was also used at the recent Schwachheim Fire (SE of Fishers Peak). They chose to stage at Perry Stokes Airport. If you’ve not visited Perry Stokes recently, please drop by and see the improvements Pinnacle Jet (the fixed base operator) and Las Animas County have invested in.

04/21/2026

Las Animas County Temporary Road Closure
County Road 45.4 will be closed on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, starting at 9:00 am. The road is scheduled to reopen at approximately 4:30 pm. Please see the detour map for more details. Use an alternate route.
If you have any questions regarding this road closure, please contact the Las Animas County Road & Bridge Department at 719-846-2931.

04/20/2026

Schwachheim Fire Update
Monday, April 20, 2026 – 8 a.m.
Colorado Incident Management Team
Phil Daniels, Incident Commander
Size: 1,582 acres | Containment: 90% | Total Personnel: 93
Location: Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Area, 14 miles southeast of Trinidad in Las Animas County
Reported: April 12, 2026, at 2:45 p.m.
Special Notes: After a full day of patrolling and securing the line following Saturday’s firing operations on the northwest side of the fire, that area has now been included in the containment percentage. The Team has begun the planning process to “right-size” the incident before it is turned back over to local control. Unneeded resources are being demobilized, and Team Colorado’s last day managing the fire will be tomorrow, Tuesday, April 21.
Current Situation: Crews continue to patrol and mop up any remaining hot spots across the fire footprint. Hand-firing operations on the north side of the fire on Saturday were extremely effective, and no additional burning was required on Sunday. The only portion that remains uncontained is off the edge of a ridge down towards the creek bottom along the East Fork of Schwachheim Creek. Crews continue to identify and rehab areas in need of suppression repair.
Weather: Today will remain warm, with highs in the mid to upper 60s, with partly sunny skies. and humidity between 8 and 13 percent. Variable winds are expected through Tuesday and will increase in the afternoon. Occasional gusts of 25-30mph may continue into Monday evening. Warmer and drier conditions are expected later in the week. A Red Flag Warning has been issued for Wednesday due to strong southwest winds and low humidity values.
Fire Behavior: Moderate fire behavior potential is expected as temperatures rise and fuels dry out. The fire will continue to be terrain and wind-driven.
Closures: Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Area, southeast of Trinidad near the New Mexico border, is closed. Turkey hunting license holders for this property will be notified directly by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in effect in the airspace above the fire. Wildfires are always a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t. For more information, visit www.knowbeforeyoufly.org
Fire Restrictions: Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect in Las Animas County, Colorado, including the towns of Trinidad, Aguilar, El Moro, Cokedale, Jansen, and Hoehne. Statewide Fire Restrictions are also in effect in New Mexico. Smoking, fireworks, campfires, open burning, and gas flares related to oil and gas production are prohibited.
Evacuations: None. Stay informed and sign up for Las Animas County, CO emergency alerts at: https://www.smart911.com/smart911/login.action?lpse=1
Sign up for Colfax County, NM emergency alerts at: https://accountportal.onsolve.net/colfaxcountynm/contact

04/20/2026

Schwachheim Fire Update

Friday, April 17, 2026 – 8 a.m.
Colorado Incident Management Team
Phil Daniels, Incident Commander
Size: 1,012 acres | Containment: 36% | Total Personnel: 124
Location: Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Area, southeast of Trinidad in Las Animas County
Reported: April 12, 2026, at 2:45 p.m.
Current Situation: Crews continue patrolling and mopping up any remaining hot spots on the south and southwest side of the fire. The east side of the fire along Schwachheim Creek is also looking good, and firefighters are evaluating the need for suppression repair activities in both of these areas. The rugged terrain and steep topography on the north side of the fire are still making access difficult, and multiple hot spots remain, despite efforts by helicopters dropping water on the timber in the drainage. A window of opportunity exists to use an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) to conduct aerial ignitions on Saturday. If conditions are right, UAS firing operations would assist ground crews in removing the fuels between the fireline on the rim of the mesa and the bottom of the East Fork drainage of Schwachheim Creek. This would move the fire into terrain that is easier and safer for firefighters to suppress.
Weather: Today is a transition day in terms of weather. A Red Flag Warning is still in effect; however, a cold front will move into the area later today, bringing cooler temperatures and gusts from the north up to 35 mph. Humidity values will increase slightly to the mid-teens, and snow is possible at higher elevations. Sub-freezing temperatures are expected overnight. Saturday is expected to remain cool, with mostly cloudy skies, less gusty winds, and possible showers.
Fire Behavior: Fire behavior has moderated with the cooler weather and higher humidity levels. Fire activity was limited to creeping and smoldering in timber and grass, with more intense flames occurring when wind, terrain, and fuels align.
Closures: Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Area, southeast of Trinidad near the New Mexico border, is closed. Turkey hunting license holders for this property will be notified directly by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in effect in the airspace above the fire. Wildfires are always a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t. For more information, visit www.knowbeforeyoufly.org
Fire Restrictions: Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect in Las Animas County, Colorado, including the towns of Trinidad, Aguilar, El Moro, Cokedale, Jansen, and Hoehne. Statewide Fire Restrictions are also in effect in New Mexico. Smoking, fireworks, campfires, open burning, and gas flares related to oil and gas production are prohibited.
Evacuations: None. Stay informed and sign up for Las Animas County, CO emergency alerts at: https://www.smart911.com/smart911/login.action?lpse=1
Sign up for Colfax County, NM emergency alerts at: https://accountportal.onsolve.net/colfaxcountynm/contact

04/15/2026

***Schwachheim Fire Update***

Wednesday, April 15, 2026 – 10 a.m.

Colorado Incident Management Team
Phil Daniels, Incident Commander
Size: 1,003 acres | Containment: 0% | Total Personnel: 103
Location: Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Area, southeast of Trinidad in Las Animas County
Reported: April 12, 2026, at 2:45 p.m.

Current Situation: On the southwest side of the fire, a combination of dozer line construction and
retardant drops has been effective in holding the left flank from Lake Dorothey up to the mesa top.
The west/southwest winds have been pushing the fire to the north and northwest, so firefighters are
scouting line locations along the rim edge above the main fork of Schwachheim Creek. Helicopters
continue to work on the east side in the drainage to keep the fire west of the East Fork of
Schwachheim Creek, while firefighters are securing the fireline on the right flank west of the East
Fork of Schwachheim Creek to the mesa top. Additional resources have arrived, and more are en
route.

Weather: Winds will predominantly be from the west to southwest, and are predicted to be relatively
light on Wednesday, but will pick up on Thursday and become gusty. Temperatures will be cooler than
yesterday, which should give firefighters a good window in which to work before warmer and windier
weather returns.
Relative humidity is expected to remain in the single digits all week. A Fire Weather Watch is in
effect for Thursday.

Fire Behavior: There was no significant growth in the southern areas of the fire yesterday. Most of
the fire activity occurred in the west/northwest corner. Retardant drops from aircraft have been
effective in the lighter fuels and along the left flank of the fire. Fire intensity has been
moderated in the old burn scar area, although the remaining burned trees and snags are a safety
concern for firefighters.

Closures: Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Area, southeast of Trinidad near the N.M. border, is closed.
Turkey hunting license holders for this property will be notified directly by Colorado Parks and
Wildlife. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in effect in the airspace above the fire.
Wildfires are always a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we
can’t. For more information, visit www.knowbeforeyoufly.org

Fire Restrictions: Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect in Las Animas County, Colorado,
including the towns of Trinidad, Aguilar, El Moro, Cokedale, Jansen, and Hoehne. Statewide Fire
Restrictions are also in effect in New Mexico. Smoking, fireworks, campfires, open burning, and gas
flares related to oil and gas production are prohibited.

Evacuations: None. Stay informed and sign up for Las Animas County, Colorado emergency alerts at:
https://www.smart911.com/smart911/login.action?lpse=1
Sign up for Colfax County, NM emergency
alerts at:
https://accountportal.onsolve.net/colfaxcountynm/contact

04/14/2026

***Schwachheim Fire Update***

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 – 10 a.m.

Colorado Incident Management Team
Phil Daniels, Incident Commander

Size: 646 acres | Containment: 0% | Total Personnel: approximately 100
Location: Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Area, southeast of Trinidad in Las Animas County
Reported: April 12, 2026, at 4:40 p.m.

Special Notes: The Colorado Type 3 Incident Management Team assumed management of the fire at 6:00 a.m. this morning. The Team is working closely with local and national resources, who remain actively engaged in suppression efforts. The fire location is less than two miles north of the New Mexico border.

Yesterday, Governor Jared Polis verbally declared a disaster emergency. This verbal declaration activates the State Emergency Operations Plan and directs the Department of Public Safety and its Divisions of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) and Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) to take all necessary and appropriate actions to assist with response, recovery, and mitigation efforts. This support includes engine and hand crews to assist in containment efforts, DFPC aerial resources, and the DFPC-sponsored Type 3 Incident Management Team to manage incident response efforts.

Current Situation: The fire is burning in grass and brush in an old burn scar area of rugged, steep drainages west of Lake Dorothey Reservoir.

Weather: Critical fire weather is expected to continue, with temperatures in the upper 60’s to mid 70’s. Fire behavior will be wind-driven, with west-southwest winds gusting up to 35 mph and humidity values as low as 10%.

Fire Behavior: The fire was active overnight, with some growth in the east drainage. Yesterday, crews on the ground were assisted with aviation resources, including two Large Air Tankers (LATs), a Type 1 helicopter, and a Type 2 helicopter. Erratic and shifting winds combined with difficult terrain contributed to fire growth yesterday. More resources have been ordered and are enroute.

Closures: Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Area, southeast of Trinidad near the N.M. border, is closed. Turkey hunting license holders for this property will be notified directly by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in effect in the airspace above the fire. Wildfires are always a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t. For more information, visit www.knowbeforeyoufly.org

Fire Restrictions: Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect in Las Animas County, Colorado, including the towns of Trinidad, Aguilar, El Moro, Cokedale, Jansen, and Hoehne. Statewide Fire Restrictions are also in effect in New Mexico. Smoking, fireworks, campfires, open burning, and gas flares related to oil and gas production are prohibited.

Evacuations: None. Stay informed and sign up for Las Animas County, Colorado emergency alerts at: https://www.smart911.com/smart911/login.action?lpse=1
Sign up for Colfax County, NM emergency alerts at: https://accountportal.onsolve.net/colfaxcountynm/contact

04/01/2026

Las Animas County Temporary Road Closure

County Road 45.4 will be closed on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, starting at 9:00 am. The road is scheduled to reopen at approximately 4:30 pm. Please see the detour map for more details. Use an alternate route.

If you have any questions regarding this road closure, please contact the Las Animas County Road & Bridge Department at 719-846-2931.

03/27/2026

STAGE II Fire Restrictions
The following acts may be prohibited when STAGE II Fire Restrictions are imposed:
* Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire or stove fire, to include any fire within a permanent constructed fire grate in a developed campground, developed recreation site, or improved site.
* Outdoor welding, grinding or use of any type of torch in any area which presents the possibility of igniting vegetation or other combustible material unless:
- There is an adequate water supply with a minimum of two hundred (200) gallons with a pump and minimum of two hundred (200) feet of hose
- Work is concluded a minimum of thirty (30) minutes prior to leaving the work site.
* Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, to include smoking in a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
* Off road use or parking of a motorized vehicle in an area which presents the possibility of sparks or exhaust heat igniting surrounding flammable vegetation.
* Operating any outdoor equipment or machinery powered by an internal combustion engine in an undeveloped area, unless; There is a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effect working order meeting either A) U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Standard 5100-1a, or B) Appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practice. J335(b) and J350(a);
- There is an adequate water supply with a minimum of two hundred (200) gallons with a pump and minimum of two hundred (200) feet of hose.
- Work is concluded a minimum of thirty (30) minutes prior to leaving the site.
* The burning of trash, refuse or other debris.
* The use of explosives
* The use of fireworks pursuant to C.R.S. 30-15-401(1) (n.7).
**** Additional Restriction****
* Recreational shooting and other discharge of fi****ms in ways that could create sparks or ignite vegetation as specified in the Sheriff’s order. Target practice is allowed at an established shooting range.