$4.9 million helibase opens near Star Valley to help mitigate wildfires

PHOTOS: The latest state-of-the-art helibase recently opened in northern Arizona to help with wildfire mitigation efforts, officials announced Tuesday. The $4.9 million facility is located near Star Valley, 7 miles east of Payson. It will aid in supporting the Payson Ranger District’s crisis strategy for reducing wildfire risk and serve as a logistical hub, according to the U.S. Forest Service. “The helibase has a three-fold mission: fire suppression, supporting fuel reduction projects and supporting land management activities,” Daniel Whatley, the Payson Ranger District fire management officer, said in a press release. “During a wildfire, helicopters deliver water, equipment and crews to suppress or reduce the spread of a wildfire.” The facility will be able to handle up to three helicopters at a time, helping the Tonto National Forest better fight fires.
KTAR-FM 92.3 Glendale

Electric scooter sparks fire at Mesa apartment

A seemingly common item caused a large apartment fire in Mesa on Wednesday afternoon. According to the Mesa Fire & Medical Department, an electric scooter caught on fire inside a living room at an apartment near Country Club Drive and Brown Road around 1 p.m. The flames quickly spread inside the unit. The fire was then upgraded to a first-alarm, with more firefighters and resources requested to battle the blaze. Crews were forced to cut a vent hole into the roof to put out the fire. Crews contained the flames to the unit, which sustained heavy damage. “There was a big fireload. Electric scooters burn very, very fast and hot. We did have some of those issues to deal with,” said Capt. Chris Tiller with Mesa Fire & Medical Department. “The holes that we cut in the roof are ventilation. It’s to get the smoke and the heat up and out of the unit we’re in.”
KTVK-TV CBS 3 & KPHO-TV CBS 5 Phoenix (AZ Family)

Northwest Fire District hiring, but seeing far fewer applicants

Marvin Snodgrass has worked for Northwest Fire District for seven out of his ten years in the firefighting industry. He’s a firefighter engineer and runs the academy as a trainer. He also conducts engineer testing and the engineer academies. “It gives you that opportunity to give back to the community,” he said. In 2021, NWFD said they made offers to 15 people and in 2022 they didn’t have an academy. They said in 2023 they made offers to 27 people and this year are hoping to get 15 new people. “When you have that big field to choose from, you can get some really good applicants,” Snodgrass said. However, he has seen a difference in the amount of applicants to the academy. In 2016, he said the district capped their applicants at one thousand people and actually hit that cap.
KGUN-TV ABC 9 Tucson

Yuma Fire Department responds to three different fires in one night

VIDEO: The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) responded to three fires during the late night hours on Monday. In a press release, the first fire took place in the area of South 15th Avenue and West Fifth Street at around 9:00pm when a palm tree caught on fire due to fireworks. When firefighters arrived, YFD says they found three palm tress "fully engulfed" in the backyard of a house. Fortunately, YFD says the fires were put out and neighboring homes were protected from the fire. The palm trees were put out as well. Homeowners were said to have temporarily evacuated from their homes as a precaution, but were able to return to their homes once the fires were put out. Following the palm tree fire, YFD says firefighters responded to the area of East 45th Street when a garage was caught on fire.
KYMA-DT CBS/NBC 11 Yuma

Underground explosion sends manhole covers flying from Paradise Valley roadway

An investigation is underway after an explosion blew two manhole covers from a street in Paradise Valley on Tuesday morning. Phoenix firefighters responded to reports of a small explosion in the area of 37th Street and Lincoln Drive around 9:45 a.m. When crews arrived, they found two manhole covers lying on the roadway. APS crews were also dispatched and determined the explosion happened in an underground electrical vault and that there was no active fire. As a precaution, Phoenix Fire hazardous materials teams checked the area for signs of a natural gas leak and found no problems. Fire officials say that no area homes or businesses lost power due to the incident. Eastbound Lincoln Drive was closed between 37th and 40th streets during the APS investigation into what caused the explosion.
KTVK-TV CBS 3 & KPHO-TV CBS 5 Phoenix (AZ Family)

Buckeye Fire-Medical Rescue Department Secures $51,000 Grant

The Buckeye Fire-Medical Rescue Department (BFMRD) is thrilled to announce its successful bid for a grant totaling over $51,000 from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). The grant funds will be allocated toward the acquisition of state-of-the-art, battery-powered extrication equipment. This addition to our cache will bolster our existing resources, equipping our dedicated personnel with the tools to expedite rescue operations during critical incidents. The acquisition of this reliable and modern equipment underscores our commitment to delivering prompt, life-saving services when it matters most. Swift and efficient patient extrication from vehicles following major accidents is paramount to mitigating injury severity and enhancing overall survivability.
City of Buckeye