Multi-Agency Rescue

Hualapai Mtn Rd / Lazy Y U -

On April 24, 2016 at 2:41 pm, firefighters from Station 51 received an alarm for an ATV accident near mile marker 5 on Hualapai Mtn Rd. Brush 516 and Batt. 5 arrived on scene with MCSO to find a male walking around his ATV with visible injuries. The patient advised his wife was still approximately 1.5 miles up the trail near the peak with a possible back injury. Brush 516 EMT took patient care of the male, while Batt. 5 made his way to the second patient with Mohave County Search and Rescue. B516 Captain established Lazy Y U Command and DPS Ranger 42 was requested out of Flagstaff, Az for a potential short haul operation. MCSO Sam 45 arrived on scene and Unified Command was established for the incident.

Batt. 5 made contact with the patient and confirmed short haul would be needed to remove the patient off the mountain. Batt. 5 provided patient care with AMR Paramedic and began packaging the patient for short haul out to Haluapai Mtn Rd. After a short flight, Ranger 42 had the patient on the ground on where she was transported by ground to Kingman Regional Medical Center in stable condition. The entire incident took roughly 3 hours and no other injuries were reported.

Story by Captain Ron Hood / Pinion Pine Fire District
Photos/Video by Engineer Chris Shaffer, Captain Ron Hood  / Pinion Pine Fire District

Firefighters Return From the Topock Fire

Topock, Az - 

On April 6th, 2016, multiple local, state and federal resources were dispatched to the Topock Fire, burning on the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge in mostly riparian fuels including salt cedar south of Topock, Az. The fire which started around 4 AM, quickly grew to 25 acres pushing the fire south from the New South Dike rd and jumped the Colorado River. Orders began to come in around 10 AM as the fire was threatening both Pirates Cove and the Topock Marina. E511 (PNP), A125 (GOV), E1102 (BUK), E3661 (CRD), E2 (GOL), B84 (MOV), Batt. 9 (FMM) and miscellaneous overhead were the first arriving units to a rapidly expanding fire.

Fire activity upon E511's arrival

 
E511, E1102 and E2 were assigned to structure protection at the Topock Marina under Battalion 9 where firefighters triaged the marina and adjacent mobile home park. Multiple helicopters and fire boats began suppressing the fire while engines held the South Dike Rd, working into the evening.

Wind shift begins on division Alpha as seen from the Topock Marina

Fire intensity begins to pick up as wind and fuels allign

Around 9:30 PM, hand crews and engines began a firing operation when am unexpected wind shift occurred, aligning with fuels and the fire made a push towards the Topock Marina. E511 was placed placed at the marina and firefighters deployed a hose lay around the marina while E1102 began prepping the mobile home park and securing the utilities. Firefighters began a firing operation from a fire boat on the north side of the marina which was successful. E511 continued to work on the fire for the next 2 days, assisting hand crews with mopping up the fire perimeter along the New South Dike rd. On April 8th, the fire received much needed rain fall and E511 was released from the incident later that evening. The fire acreage recorded was 2,200 acres.

The fire making a push towards the marina

Firing operation on the north side of the marina to remove the fuels in front of the fire front

Story and Photos by Fire Captain Ron Hood

Firefighters Respond to Remote Vehicle Accident

Wikieup, Az - 

On Friday, July 11, 2014 around 11:40 AM, Pinion Pine firefighters were dispatched to Lower Trout Creek Rd, north of Wikieup, Az for a reported motor vehicle accident. Crews arrived in the area and were notified that the accident occurred roughly 15 miles east of Highway 93 near Wagon Bow Ranch off of Trout Creek Rd with 2 patients with major injuries. Brush 526 crew activated one airship to the remote location. While responding, crews encountered the Big Sandy River which was unable to be passed by ground ambulance, at this time a second air ship was activated due to no ground transport.

Firefighters arrived on scene and learned the patients had been ejected from a tractor trailer hauling hay, when they lost control and overturned. One patient sustained a major back injury and was transported to Las Vegas by air. The second patient, who was able to walk was transported by air to Las Vegas. Both patients were in serious but stable condition. The cause of the accident is being investigated by the Mohave County Sheriffs Office, though the driver stated a loss of brakes occurred causing the vehicle to gain speed downhill and ultimately crash.

Story by Lieutenant Ron Hood, Pinion Pine Fire District
Photos by Firefighter Aaron Volk, Pinion Pine Fire District

Late Season Winter Weather Causes Rollover

DW Ranch Rd -

On April 26, 2014 around 7:30 am, firefighters received a call for a possible rollover accident on DW Ranch Rd near the 2 mile marker which brought the response of a structure engine, a brush engine and a Chief. B516 and C501 were first to arrive on scene to a SUV on its side blocking northbound DW Ranch Rd. Firefighters made contact with the driver who self extricated himself and stated he was uninjured. E521 continued to the scene to check for vehicle hazards and assist with traffic control on the slippery and blind corner.

The cause of the accident was determined to be driver error, he stated while driving north on DW Ranch Rd, the roadway was covered with snow, when he approached the turn, the road appeared to continue straight which was actually a wash. Once he entered the wash he quickly realized the road went to the right, which caused him to over correct and begin sliding in the snow then striking an embankment, flipping his vehicle.

Story by Lieutenant Ron Hood, Pinion Pine Fire District
Photo by Firefighter Aaron Volk, Pinion Pine Fire District

Multiple Resources Respond to Aircraft Crash

Wikieup, Az -

On March 28, 2013 at 11:43 AM E521 and Batt. 5 (Hood) were dispatched to Highway 93 near Wikieup, Az (MM 132) for a reported aircraft down. Units arrived at a staging area north of the incident with Mohave County Sheriffs Office Search and Rescue, AMR, DPS and Bagdad Fire while DPS Ranger and Angel 7 searched for the downed aircraft from the air. Angel 7 located the wreck and the staged resources responded to the scene which was located near Burro Creek Crossing Rd. Batt. 5 arrived on scene and reported a single engine aircraft approximately 500 ft down the hillside. Crews hiked to the aircraft, finding three occupants, one deceased and two in serious condition. Crews stabilized the aircraft and packaged the occupants for transport to the hospital. Both patients were carried back to the roadway and airlifted to area hosptials in. The cause of the accident is unknown and is under investigation.

>> AZ Central News Article

 

 

Article By: Lt.. Ron Hood