Gate Fire stopped at 75 acres near north Scottsdale homes

VIDEO: Firefighters were able to stop a fast-moving brush fire that threatened a neighborhood in far north Scottsdale on Thursday. The flames from the Gate Fire, previously named the Sand Hills Fire, came within feet of homes in the area of 128th Street and Ranch Gate Road, near the Tom’s Thumb Trailhead. One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion, but no other injuries have been reported so far. On Friday morning, Arizona Forestry and Fire Management took command of the blaze and stopped the fire at 75 acres. Over the next few days, crews will focus on containing the flames that pushed into the southeast side of McDowell Mountain Regional Park. Four large air tankers were ordered to help slow the fire’s spread and assist crews on the ground.
KTVK-TV CBS 3 & KPHO-TV CBS 5 Phoenix (AZ Family)

Southern Arizona regional palm tree rescue training held in Tucson

VIDEO: Multiple fire departments and districts came together to train for palm tree rescues at Reid Park in Tucson. Firefighters use a lot of gear including shoes with spikes to rescue people stuck in palm trees. But now they’re working on a faster, safer way, where those spikes are no longer necessary. “When someone’s stuck in a tree, you know, time is life,” said Roger Thompson, a firefighter with the Tucson Fire Department. Technical rescue technicians from across southern Arizona have been meeting for years, learning and practicing how to rescue people who’ve gotten stuck in palm trees. Thompson told 13 News they see one to two rescues each year. And he’s come up with a new way to execute their rescues. “Implements a lot of the same techniques, but also somewhat streamlined,” Thompson said. “As far as equipment goes, it takes less equipment.”
KOLD-TV CBS 13 Tucson

Fast-moving fire burns Phoenix home, guest house

VIDEO: A Phoenix home and guest house went up in flames on Wednesday afternoon. It happened in the area of 14th Street and Dunlap Avenue. Investigators said the flames started in the home and spread to the nearby guest house. The flames then burned the brush in the area. Crews surrounded the fire and gained control, bumping up the assignment to a first alarm, meaning dozens more firefighters and equipment were called out to the scene. Firefighters put out the flames and prevented them from spreading to the neighbors. Aerial video from Arizona’s Family News Chopper shows heavy damage to both buildings. No one was home at the time of the fire so it’s unclear how many are displaced, firefighters said. Fire investigators are looking into what started the fire.
KTVK-TV CBS 3 & KPHO-TV CBS 5 Phoenix (AZ Family)

Crews fighting Siphon Fire burning near Apache Junction, Point Fire near New River

VIDEO: Fire crews are battling a wildfire near Apache Junction and another near New River that, combined with California wildfire smoke, are leading to hazy conditions. The fires have been named the Siphon Fire and the Point Fire and are under investigation. Officials told ABC15 early Wednesday morning that the Siphon Fire has burned 60-80 acres in the Superstition Wilderness northeast of Apache Junction and is at 0% containment. There is no public threat, but officials say some trail closures are in place. The cause of the fire is under investigation. An ABC15 viewer shared a view of the fire burning Tuesday night with flames and smoke seen from nearby neighborhoods. The Point Fire is burning five miles northeast of New River near West Point Mountain, Tonto National Forest officials said Tuesday.
KNXV-TV ABC 15 Phoenix