The thick plume of smoke could be seen across Montezuma County last Friday as the Weber Fire took off just after 4 p.m.
At the base of that fire, firefighters worked hard to contain the wall of flames and Dolores firefighters were there too.
In total, six firefighters from Dolores joined what was eventually over 600 fire personnel to fight a fire that burned well over 9,000 acres.
On that first day, the fire was totally out of control, said Mike Zion, Dolores Fire Chief. The vegetation was just so thick. It is just so dry.
When federal responders took over the forest fire, Dolores firefighters joined Mancos in protecting structures. Dolores cleared fire lines with its skidder and foamed houses.
Dolores firefighters worked on the fire Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday and said they were on standby the rest of the week in case Mancos needed help again. Zion said they cant stretch Dolores too thin in case a fire breaks out in Dolores.
And now that lightning season and the Fourth of July are approaching, Dolores firefighters have to be ready.
We need people to be vigilant, Zion said. We get called out on dust plumes, but thats OK, wed rather run on nothing than not run on something.
He added that nobody should even think about setting off fireworks this year.
People just cant do fireworks this year, he said. Sparklers are not OK either.
There is really no firework that is safe, he said.
Zion said that he appreciated the community support during the Mancos fire and the Mancos firefighters did a great job too.
Those guys from Mancos are incredible, Gina Kotarski, with the Dolores Volunteer Fire Protection District said.
