Winter Storm Warning

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Mohave County from 8 PM tonight untill 8 PM Sunday night with winter driving conditions along Hualapai Mtn Rd, Highway 66 and East County along Interstate 40. Snowfall accumulations from 6-12 inches above 5000 feet, 3-6 inches above 4500 feet and lesser above 3500 feet accompanied by 20-30 MPH winds with gusts to 45 MPH. Use extreme caution while driving in these conditions and be aware of snow removal equipment on the roadways. Check Az511 and the National Weather Service for updated road closures and weather conditions.

Are You Prepared For Wildland Fires?

 Here are a few things you can do to help protect your home/property.  

• Create a defensible area, firebreaks that divert flames around property, by clearing weeds and dry grass at least 100 feet around your home. Property on sloped areas should be cleared at least 100 feet as well, as wind-fed flames can race up hills and mountainsides quickly.  
• Keep propane tanks clear of vegetation.
• Keep all combustibles, such as firewood, lawn furniture, picnic tables, etc., away from structures.
• Clean rain gutters regularly to avoid leaf and needle accumulation.
• Clear vegetation and other flammable materials from beneath decks or other wooden structures.
• Remove tree limbs and vegetation that overhang the roof.
• Remove all branches lower than 6 feet. .
• Keep garden hose connected to faucet.
• Review your home escape plan with your family & have a fire drill exercise.
• Ensure address is clearly visible from the street.

And as always, visit firewise.org for other useful tips and become FIREWISE!

Morning Vehicle Fire Brings Response

On March 5, 2012 at 8:45 Am, an alarm was recieved for a passenger vehicle fire near Windmill Ranch Rd off of Highway 93 South. E526 and C501 were dispatched to the incident. On arrival, crews found a single vehicle pickup truck on fire with secondary brush involvement. The fire was quickly knocked down and brush held to .10 of an acre. The vehicle was unoccupied with no one in the area. The fire is under investigation by the Mohave County Sheriffs Office due to the location of the fire, no VIN and no license plate on the vehicle.

Article Submitted by Engineer/EMT Ron Hood

Photo Submitted by Chief Joe Jackson

Basic Firefighter Skills Class Available

The Pinion Pine Fire District will be holding a Basic Firefighter Skills Class open to area depts, for individuals interesting in earning a Basic Firefighter Skills certificate through the Arizona Center for Fire Service Excellence. The class will be held at Pinion Pine Fire Station No. 52 and take place over the course of three weekends for 8 hours a day starting April 21, 2012 and ending on May 6, 2012. The class will be a combination of classroom lectures, discussions and hands on skills ranging from Personal Protective Equipment to Rapid Intervention Crews to Fire Behavior. There is a limited amount of space available and some requirements apply. For more information on class details and requirements, Visit http://www.pinionpinefire.com/.

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