CREATE TAG Team Coverage
Integral parts take integral partners. "Yes Hillary, it takes a Village," or moreover it takes a Community — with emphasis on community. We are often helpless when we read that less than two hours away a wildfire breaks loose — until it hits our immediate area. As a lifelong journalist and a Colorado citizen since 1978, I have covered wildfires and I have had to evacuate. That gives me some credibility in speaking to those who are in danger right now.
On Wednesday, June 10, 2026, a wildfire known as the Bear Fire erupted in Las Animas County, Colorado, prompting an urgent response from local authorities and forcing residents in the southern part of the state to evacuate their homes. As the sun set over the Colorado-New Mexico border, the situation remained tense, with firefighters racing against time and the elements to contain the blaze and protect both people and property.
The Bear Fire ignited close to County Road 133.8 — rugged terrain with rural homes and acreage. By Wednesday evening, the fire had already spread to an estimated 120 acres, according to local officials. The timing and speed of this particular blaze is consistent with the early 2026 wildfire season, which started in March on Highway 115. Red Flag Warnings continue today.
TAG — You're It!
According to updates from the American Red Cross and local emergency services, a Red Flag Warning was in effect for most of Colorado on June 10, signaling extremely high fire danger due to dry conditions, gusty winds, and low humidity. The combination of parched vegetation and strong winds can turn a spark into a raging inferno in a matter of minutes.
TAG Teams have been in discussion with local 4-H extensions from Colorado State University about finding entrepreneurial answers to prevent the spread of wildfires. Together with Denver Botanical Gardens, the focus is on Coloradoscaping — replacing grasses not native to Colorado with vegetation and crops that produce fruit and vegetables in short seasons with low water usage, while preventing erosion and soil damage. The effort includes bolstering soil, protecting water rights from being sold to cities that use water to green up yards, parks, and recreation areas, and working with 4-H and garden clubs to change the landscapes of downtown and Main Street with demonstration native plants, grasses, and trees native to the region.
TAG Teams are mostly Media, Entrepreneurial, and Educational Teams who identify the problems and challenges of regional needs, invest in solutions, and distribute those solutions locally and regionally. As a journalist, artist, and musician covering the Mountain Time Region — Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Montana, and Nebraska — Richard Arnold Beattie's priority is leaving good fruit in your community. Email: richardbeattie809@gmail.com. Think-Action-Groups Now!
