Suspicious Package - 03/23/09 - Bayfield, CO

On March 23rd, 2009 the Upper Pine River Fire Protection District responded to a report of a suspicious package at the Town of Bayfield’s Water Treatment Plant located at 215 Lakeside Drive. A red and white cooler had been located outside of the building’s chlorine storage room and workers at the plant notified the Bayfield Marshal’s Office.

The progression of this incident was typical for this type of call. The Marshal’s Office called the Fire District; the Fire District called out Durango Fire’s Regional Hazardous Materials Team; and the Haz-Mat Team called out the Farmington, NM Police Department’s Bomb Team. The FPD Robot, “Woody” was deployed and discovered a fishy situation in the cooler. While the outcome was a little bit humorous, actions taken by all of the responders were “by the book” for dealing with a suspicious package at an identified target hazard.