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Colorado’s Schwachheim Fire Expands to 1,000 Acres, Disaster Emergency Declared


Description: (Photo Credit: Hoehne Fire Protection District) Schwachheim Fire reaches Over 1,000 acres, as of 7PM 4/14/26, near Trinidad with 0% containment as crews face strong winds, low humidity, and ongoing critical fire weather. Read the full Press release from Colorado Incident Management Team...

Schwachheim Fire Update

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 - 10 a.m.

Colorado Incident Management Team

Phil Daniels, Incident Commander

Size: 646 acres (1,000 acres at 7pm) | 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 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.