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

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

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