New Dispatch Center for Pinion Pine Fire District

At midnight on March 1, 2012, the Kingman Emergency Dispatch Center will be in full swing for area fire departments including the Pinion Pine Fire District. Until now, the disptach facility handled and dispatched emergencies for the Kingman Fire Dept and Kingman Police Dept only. The new disptach center will now handle and dispatch calls for Kingman Fire and Police, Golden Valley Fire District, Northern Arizona Consolidated Fire District #1, Pinion Pine Fire District and Pine Lake Fire District, minimizing the delay of emergency apparatus by going through one facility. All emergencies should still be placed using the 911 system and non emergency calls can still be routed through Station No. 51. The Pinion Pine Fire District is looking forward to the new dispatch facility and the benefits that will come from it to better help protect the community in which we serve. For any questions or comments, please contact Station No. 51 at 928-757-1207.

Pinion Pine Firefighter's Prepare for 2012 Fire Season

On Sunday February 26, 2012, firefighter's participated in the annual wildland refresher course in preperation for the 2012 Wildland fire season conducted by Operations Lieutenant Kevin Gifford, Enginner Ken Milner and Engineer Ron Hood. Every year, Pinion Pine firefighters participate in an 8 hour class designed to keep them sharp and safe during wildfire incidents focusing on LCES (Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes and Safety Zones), entrapment avoidance, fire shelter deployment, and safety along with an annual physical agility test that requires firefighter's to walk 3 miles with a 45 lb pack in under 45 minutes. These standards are required to be "Red Carded" by the state of Arizona and to assist other agencies in the United States, primarily on the west coast for wildfire incidents.

Lt. Kevin Gifford (middle) and Engineer Duane Dodds (right)
prepare to deploy their fire shelters. The Department requirement
is to be in your shelter completely within 20 seconds.

Lt. Kevin Gifford instructing class about entrapment avoidance

Article Submitted by Engineer/EMT Ron Hood

Crew Responds To Early Morning Accident

On February 25, 2012 at 2:30 AM, E516 and C501 were dispatched to Interstate 40, mile marker 58.5 for a motor vehicle accident involving two tractor trailers. Units arrived on scene to find both semi's blocking eastbound traffic with heavy damage to the front of one semi and the rear of the other. Both occupants were checked by EMS personnel, the driver of the second semi was transported to KRMC with minor injuries. The #1 semi was traveling at approx. 40 mph when the second semi failed to negotiate around him which was traveling at highway speed. Traffic was reduced to the shoulder for 1 hour while recovery crews removed the vehicle from the roadway.

The second semi had moderate to heavy damage
to the motor compartment.



Article Submitted by Engineer/EMT Ron Hood

Photo Submitted by Firefighter/EMT Aaron Volk

Crews Respond to Fatality Rollover

On February 17, 2012 at 2:03 PM, an alarm was recieved for a single vehicle rollover on Interstate 40, near the 65 mile marker. E516 was dispatched and was on scene within 7 minutes to find a pickup truck on its side in the median. Upon further assessment, the driver was found to be deceased. Care was given to a passerby who cut themselves while attempting to rescue the driver and was released on scene. E516 used extrication tools to remove the driver from the vehicle. Traffic was reduced to 1 lane for one and a half hours during the incident. The cause of the accident is still under investigation by the Dept. of Public Safety.

The vehicle rests on its side after rolling through the median
landing on the eastbound side of Interstate 40



Extrication tools were used to gain access
 to the drivers side of the vehicle.

Article Submitted by Engineer/EMT Ron Hood

Photos Submitted by Engineer/EMT Duane Dodds

Crews Respond To First Vegitation Fire For 2012

On February 2, 2012 at 12:57 Am, Engine 526 and Chief 501 received an alarm for a vegetation fire on Interstate 40 near the 97 mile marker in neighboring Yavapai County. Units arrived on scene to find a tenth of an acre fire smoldering in light grass, with low spread. Engine 526 took action on the fire and extinguished it within a few minutes. The fire was started from a passing vehicle hauling a boat that had lost a tire. The occupants in the vehicle were unharmed during the incident. This marks the first vegetation fire for 2012 and even with decent snowfall in the area and low temperatures, the fuels are still dry and pose a threat to ignition, even during the winter. STAY FIREWISE

Article Submitted by Engineer/EMT Ron Hood