It’s been at least four years since there was a fire in this historic mining town (knock on wood), which is fortunate, because it’s been without a fire department for most of that time. That changed in September when Mike Pettway and Jay Fleming stepped up as volunteer firefighters for Northern Arizona Consolidated Fire District, staffing the Chloride fire station that was closed in 2014 because of budget cuts. Pettway works full time for Lake Mohave Ranchos Fire District, and is paid for being on call as captain of the Chloride station. Fleming, 65, is a retired police officer from Washington who’s been involved with the citizens’ response team in Chloride for several years, even though he lives in Dolan Springs.