Two fires in one day at the Purple Cliffs homeless camp south of Durango have prompted law enforcement to offer outreach on how to safely have a fire, especially as cold temperatures this winter heighten the need for outside fires to keep warm.
“The offer is out there,” said Karola Hanks, fire marshal for the Durango Fire Protection District. “It’s a matter of coordination. This is a situation that’s delicate, and we want to be careful we’re not overly assertive.”
The first fire was reported around 10:40 a.m. Tuesday. After emergency crews arrived at the scene, it was discovered that two tents had caught fire and had been put out by residents at the camp.
In that fire, a woman identified as Mya Lee, 31, was arrested on suspicion of fourth-degree arson. La Plata County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Chris Burke said the case remains under investigation.