Wildfire burns hundreds of acres south of Maricopa

VIDEO: Over 300 hundred acres have been burned following a fast-moving wildfire Thursday in Pinal County. The fire broke out around 1 p.m. near SR 347 and Miller Road, about nine miles south of Maricopa. The Arizona Dept. of Forestry and Fire Management reported that multiple crews responded, including a hand crew, engine and air attack. An estimated 340 acres burned, mostly involving light grass and desert shrubs. Video from the Arizona’s Family news chopper shows at least one structure was destroyed. Firefighters remained on scene extinguishing hot spots. No injuries have been reported. In southeast Arizona, fire crews achieved 100% containment on the Bowers Fire on Thursday. The fire that began Monday in Cochise County left one man dead and another hurt.
KTVK-TV CBS 3 & KPOH-TV CBS 5 Phoenix (AZ Family)

Bomb squad responds to possible grenade in Green Valley

PHOTO: Pima Regional Bomb Squad responded to reports of a grenade in Green Valley Thursday morning. According to a release from Green Valley Fire, a Sonoita resident brought what he believed to be a live grenade to Station 153. The man told firefighters that he found the grenade on his son's property, and he didn't know what to do with he so it brought it to the fire station. The station and crews were evacuated and taken out of service until it could be determined if the grenade was live or inert. The Pima County Sheriff's Office was notified, and the Pima Regional Bomb Squad was mobilized and responded. Bomb technicians X-rayed the grenade and determined it was inert and did not pose a threat. Traffic on north Abrego at the intersection of Continental was closed during the incident.
KVOA-TV NBC 4 Tucson

Helicopter crew rains fireballs over Tonto National Forest to prepare for wildfire season

Smoke billowed from Diamond Rim on the Tonto National Forest on Monday afternoon as a helicopter bobbed along overhead, dropping tiny fireballs to stoke flames on the ground. The federally contracted chopper is based for this spring and summer at a new, $4.9 million U.S. Forest Service helicopter base in Star Valley that will aid in both fighting wildfires and igniting prescribed burns like the one on the ridge. The Payson Ranger District’s helitack team, which fights fires via helicopter, at times rappelling to the forest floor, has moved there from trailers that it formerly worked out of at the Payson airport. The Forest Service started work last week on burning some 5,500 acres of brush and dense woodlands north of Payson in an effort to protect more than 400 homes and summer cottages scattered around the woods north and east of town.
The Arizona Republic - Metered Site

San Tan Valley home destroyed in ’out of control’ fire set by men burning trash in vacant lot, officials say

VIDEO/PHOTO: Two men burning trash in a vacant San Tan Valley lot caused a fire that destroyed a home on Tuesday, according to the Pinal County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff's office got a call about the fire, which was near Pava Lane and Rolling Ridge Road, from neighbors who reported seeing two men burning trash and weeds in the vacant lot near the home. Sheriff Mark Lamb said that the fire spread quickly and engulfed the home, which is a total loss. No one was injured. Rural Metro Fire San Tan Valley firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading to any other homes. The two men ran from the scene when the fire got out of control, officials said, but neighbors were able to point police to the home they ran to.
KPNX-TV NBC 12 Mesa

Firefighters in Glendale prepare for electrical hazards while on the job

VIDEO: Firefighters deal with numerous dangers while out on the job, including downed power lines. Things like traffic accidents, high winds, ice storms and much more can cause hazards around electricity. Sometimes, it can be deadly if someone comes in contact with an open wire, especially for our fire crews. “It’s extremely dangerous for firefighters to have exposed electricity, down power lines with the storms with the fires,” said Glendale Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike O’Neill. That’s why, for nearly 20 years, APS has teamed up with Arizona fire agencies to help keep our crews safe when responding to a call. “Just kind of waking them up to those dangers and that awareness, and letting them know that it exists is what we’re trying to do here,” O’Neill said.
KTVK-TV CBS 3 & KPHO-TV CBS 5 Phoenix (AZ Family)

Yavapai County: Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority Awarded Grant for Car Seat Safety Program

The Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority (CAFMA) is pleased to announce that it has been selected as a recipient of the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) Highway Safety Grant. This grant will significantly increase CAFMA’s efforts in enhancing community safety through its child seat safety inspections and car seat assistance program. Recognizing CAFMA’s dedication to ensuring the safety of community members on Arizona roads, GOHS awarded a $6,868.00 grant to support materials, supplies, and personnel services. These resources will be instrumental in advancing CAFMA’s mission of educating parents and caregivers on the proper installation and use of child car seats. “We are honored to receive this grant from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety,” said Darrell Tirpak, Fire Marshal at CAFMA.
Prescott eNews

Fire damages Phoenix couple’s property

VIDEO: A Valley couple is displaced after a fire significantly damaged their home Wednesday morning. “It’s everything. This is our little mansion, our little kingdom," Wayne Berg said. Wayne and Linda Berg have lived in their home near 32nd Street and McDowell Road for the past 30 years. “It was crazy. Honest to God. I never thought this would happen to us and it did," Wayne Berg said. A fire started in their backyard, charring debris and plants before making its way inside. “It was filled with smoke so fast. It burned all the curtains and then I got down low and I went looking for my wife," Berg said. Neighbors watched from outside as the fire took over the house. “The flames were bright red," John Mariscal said. "They were really high. They were higher than the roof.”
KPNX-TV NBC 12 Mesa