Mutliple Agencies Assist in Brushfire

Willow Creek - 

On April 12, 2015 around 12:30 pm, Pinion Pine firefighters were dispatched to a smoke check in the area of Willow Creek off of exit 87 on Interstate 40. Additional information was obtained that the reported fire was roughly 8 miles north of the Interstate near the power lines. E513 arrived in the area confirmed smoke in the area. Once the crew arrived on scene they found what appeared to be two separate fires, roughly half a mile apart. Due to access issues, the limited resources on scene and the extreme potential, E513 requested an additional three type 6 engines, one helicopter and and ICT4.

That order was filled as

• E3664 from Kingman BLM (T6)
• A135 from Golden Valley (T6)
• B526R from Pinion Pine (T6)
• Division 803 from Mohave Valley (ICT4)
• DPS Kingman Ranger (T3 helicopter)
• Flagstaff 2-4 (AZSF AFMO)

BLM E3664 initially took over IC of the fire until Division 803 arrived on scene and had Ranger fly the fires to determine the number, size and rate of spread of the fires. Ranger reported 2 fires, both roughly 5 acres, with slow rate of spread burning in grass, brush and pinyon-juniper. Once Division 803 arrived, an order was made for a hand crew which was filled by Winslow 1.

Crews remained on scene for the next 2 days, assisting hand crews with mopping up and containment of both fires and monitored them during incoming red flag conditions. The two fires were mapped and recorded as 2.1 acres and 2.6 acres. Both fires were 100% contained by 4/15/2015. A fire investigator was dispatched to the scene and was unable to determine the cause of the fire.

Article and Photos by Captain Ron Hood

Mutual Aid Response to Brushfire in Seligman, Az

Seligman, Az -

On Saturday, June 14, 2014 around 6:20 AM, Engine 513 from Fire Station 52 and Brush 516 from Fire Station 51 were dispatched by the State of Arizona for initial attack on a brushfire 4 miles west of Seligman, Az. Crews arrived on scene in the Bridge Canyon area and observed moderate fire behavior in grass and Pinion-Juniper. E513 was assigned to the northeast portion of the fire to determine what the best course of action would be in regards to allowing the fire to burn to the road, to burn off the road or to directly attack the fire.

E513 Crew mopping up hotspots

E513 decided to cut line and directly attack the fire was the most suitable situation. E513 crew was then assisted by the Prescott IHC who had just arrived on scene and finished the line to a 2 track road to the west.

E513 supporting a progressive hose lay along the west and north sides of the fire

B516 was assigned to the southwest corner where they were tasked with protecting a structure. Roughly 2 hours later, crews began mopping up along the edges and E513 was repositioned to support a 1,000 ft hose lay along the west and north sides of the fire. Both crews worked side by side with other local, State and Federal resources and contained the fire to 17 acres.

Other resources on scene included:

Prescott IHC
Junipine Fire Dept
Seligman Fire Dept
Williamson Valley Fire Dept
BLM Weaver Mtn Helitack
Arizona State Forestry Overhead

Photos by Firefighter Mike Schmidt, Pinion Pine Fire District
Story by Lieutenant Ron Hood, Pinion Pine Fire District

Pinion Pine Sends Type 3 to Sedona

Sedona, Az -

On Wednesday, May 21, 2014, Engine 513 was requested by the State of Arizona to respond to the Slide Fire burning near Sedona, Az. The Slide Fire began on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 around 4 pm when a fire was sparked in Oak Creek Canyon, just north of the Slide Rock State Park which rapidly gained momentum and began burning up the canyon charring 400 acres by 10 pm.

At this time the fire is 400 acres, with 0% containment and being investigated.

Slide fire around 8:30 pm Tuesday night. Photo courtesy of Jon Pelletier/VVN

Story by Lieutenant Ron Hood / Pinion Pine Fire District

Multi-Agency Saw Class

Pine Lake - 

From January 14-16, 2014, personnel from multiple agencies attended a wildfire chainsaw class (S-212) held at the Pine Lake Fire District and instructed by Arizona State Forestry representatives. During the three day class, students learned proper tool handling and safety procedures, chainsaw maintenance and cutting techniques.

One the final day of class, students participated in a field day exercise in the Hualapai Mountain Park  where a thinning project has been started to help complete the fuel break around the Pine Lake community. Students were graded on proper cutting techniques and safe felling operations as well as a stump analysis of trees that were cut.

This project as well as the class took a jump to the front row after this past summers Dean Peak Fire that started on June 29, 2013 by a lightning strike and burnt nearly 5,500 acres, threatening both the Pine Lake and Pinion Pine communities. The class provides more local first responders with chainsaw knowledge and certifications at the National level to help protect the communities in which they serve as well as other communities when dispatched to nationwide natural disasters such as wildfires, hurricanes and tornadoes.

Agencies that attended the course included Golden Valley Fire District, Desert Hills Fire District, Fish and Wildlife Services, Pinion Pine Fire District and the Mohave County Division of Emergency Management.

Instructors included Aaron Green and Tony Parks (Arizona State Forestry),  Kevin Gifford (Golden Valley Fire District) and Doug Carney (Mohave Valley Fire District)

Story by Lieutenant Ron Hood, Pinion Pine Fire District
Photos by Mike Browning, Mohave County Emergency Management Assistant Coordinator