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Sawmill blaze in Raton contained after multi‑agency response; officials review code compliance
Summary
A fully involved loader fire at Western Wood Products near Raton drew mutual‑aid crews and prompted county officials to review long‑standing fire‑code and operational concerns at the facility, Colfax County fire marshal said.
A loader fire at Western Wood Products near Raton on the afternoon of May 18 drew more than 50 personnel from Colfax County and mutual‑aid departments and was contained after several hours of firefighting, Colfax County Fire Marshal Nate Sandoval said at the commissioners' meeting. "A fully involved front end loader with multiple exposures including a large structure, several stacks of wood shipping pallets" arrived with "pallets already gassing off indicating an imminent fire extension," Sandoval said.
The fire extended into tightly packed pallet stacks about 20 feet high and several rows deep, and spread into the southern portion of the county rodeo grounds before crews contained it, Sandoval said. Mutual aid responders included Maxwell, BenchTrak, Belmont, Cimarron and Cimarron EMS; units remained on scene until about 11 p.m., and firefighters returned for continued overhaul and monitoring overnight. Sandoval reported no major personnel injuries but said several apparatus sustained heat damage, including cracked windows and blistered paint.
Emergency Management Director Tom Vigil described the incident as an example of lingering fire risk despite recent rain. "Yesterday, the prime example of the science of fuel moisture ... 10000 hour fuels ... goes far beyond even that wonderful rainstorm that we had last week," Vigil said, warning that large, heavy fuels take much longer to regain moisture and that the county remains vulnerable to wildfire spread.
Sandoval told commissioners his office will open a formal review of the facility's fire‑safety practices. He said inspectors previously noted violations and difficult access, including stacked pallets too close to structures and retired fuel tanks still marked as fuel containers. "In the past, there have been several attempts to have him organize better, have a better fire plan," Sandoval said; he added the county will examine the facility's emergency procedures and preplans to reduce future risk.
Commissioners heard that higher winds and confined fuel loads complicated apparatus placement and hose deployment. Sandoval and Vigil recommended continued interagency coordination and post‑incident inspection of the facility. No formal enforcement action was reported during the meeting; Sandoval said the county is "looking into" next steps and compliance requirements.
Commissioners did not vote on enforcement at the meeting; they accepted the incident reports and asked staff to follow up on the formal review and safety recommendations.
