Winter Weather Advisory

Planning to travel tonight and/or tomorrow? Here are a few things you should know.

A winter weather advisory has been issued for our area beginning tonight and extending through tomorrow. If you plan on traveling on Interstate 40 or the county mountain roads (Hualapai Mtn Rd, DW Ranch Rd, etc.) use extreme care and watch for snow removal equipment on the roadways. As you travel, you can call the Arizona Department of Transportions 511 number for updated road conditions and/or closures or you can visit www.az511.gov. If you are calling from out of state, dial  1-888-411-ROAD (7623).

Be prepared for the worst. Here are a just few things you should carry in your vehicle when traveling through areas with projected winter storms:

• Flashlight
• Water
• Food
• Extra blankets/coats
• Extra medication
• Emergency flares

For more information and a complete list on how to prepare for winter weather, visit http://www.ready.gov/winter-weather.

Firefighters Battle Oil Fed Semi Fire

Interstate 40 -

On January 22, 2013 at 3:21 PM, E523 recieved an alarm for a motor vehicle fire on Interstate 40 at the 81 mile marker eastbound. While responding, information was given that the tractor trailer was hauling motor oil and had ignited a secondary vegetation fire, E526 and WT528 were then dispatched. Upon the arrival of E523, crews deployed a 1 1/2 CAFS attack line and suppressed the vegetation fire holding it at 1/4 of an acre and began attacking the vehicle fire which had spread to the contents of the trailer, but could not successfully extinguish the oil fed fire.

Firefighters Matt Young, Travis Menter and Sean Osterman
during suppression efforts.
Photo by Firefighter Steve Little

 



E526 and WT528 arrived on scene and assisted E523 crew with the application of Class A & B foam and were able to knock the fire down and begin overhaul. ADOT Hazardous Materials was notified and a team was dispatched to the scene to mitigate the oil run off which was diked southeast of the incident. Crews were on scene for approximately 6 hours and the Department of Public Safety closed eastbound Interstate 40 traffic for 3 hours until the fire was under control. No injuries were sustained by the driver or fire personnel but the vehicle and its load were a total loss.

 

Helmet cam photo from Lieutenent Ron Hood



Crews Respond to Grim Fire Scene

On January 7, 2013 at 7:05 AM, E521 and C501 were dispatched to the area just south of the Interstate 40 on DW Ranch for a reported person on fire. E521 crew arrived on scene and began patient care on an individual laying face down on the ground and soon was determined deceased. The victim had stab wounds and was on fire prior to their arrival but had been extinguished upon the engines arrival by a passerby. Crews remained on scene until the Mohave County Sheriff's Office arrived and the scene was passed over.

The following article was posted by the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

Arizona firefighters discover burning body near Kingman

By Dave Hawkins
SPECIAL TO THE LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

 

Posted: Jan. 7, 2013 | 4:36 p.m.

 

A burning body was found early Monday morning by Pinion Pine Fire Department personnel responding to a fire report about 5 miles east of Kingman, Ariz.

Mohave County Sheriff Tom Sheahan said the homicide victim was a black man between the ages of 25 to 35. He weighed 200 pounds and was between 5 feet 9 inches and 6 feet tall.

The body was found along an Interstate 40 frontage road near DW Ranch Road just after 7 a.m.
Sheahan said the man was likely killed elsewhere and transported to the location. A gas can was found at the scene.

Sheahan said the body was discovered facedown in the dirt. The man had short black hair, a short beard and moustache and was wearing a blue denim shirt, black pants and black dress shoes with laces.

"The victim's left upper chest has a large cross tattoo and below the tattoo 'the truth hurts' is written," a news release said. "The victim was wearing a large stud earring in his left ear."

Autopsy results are pending. Anyone with information about the ongoing case is asked to call the sheriff's office at (928) 753-0753, or Silent Witness at (928) 753-1234.

 

Early Morning Structure Fire

On December 28, 2012 at 2:42 AM, Engine 511 and Chief 501 recieved an alarm for a possible structure fire in the walls of a residence on Alta Dr. Upon the arrival of Engine 511, there was nothing showing and the homeowners waving around to the rear of the structure. Crews found an exterior wall in the rear that had caught fire after ashes from a fireplace were placed in the area and thought to be out. The container caught on fire and reached the wall where it spread approximately halfway up the wall. Crews removed portions of the siding and wall to check for further extension. This fire could have been avoided, placing your fireplace ashes in a metal container away from the house is the preferred method of disposing them. In this incident, the homeowners thought their ashes were well cold which started a fire while everyone was sleeping on a night that was in the 20's. Damages to the structure were low and no injuries were reported.



Fire District Christmas Dinner

The Pinion Pine Fire District was proud to promote 9 members of the Fire District lastnight during our annual Christmas dinner.

Captain Chris Jackson promoted to Assistant Fire Chief
Lieutenant Danny Zandvliet promoted to Captain
Engineer Ron Hood promoted to Lieutenant
Probationary Firefighter Travis Menter promoted to Firefighter
Probationary Firefighter David Swisher promoted to Firefighter
Probationary Firefighter Robert Frank promoted to Firefighter
Probationary Firefighter James Bevins promoted to Firefighter
Probationary Firefighter Neal Raines promoted to Firefighter
Probationary Firefighter Matthew Young promoted to Firefighter

The rest of the evening was spent eating good food and visiting the family members of other employees and of course a special visit from Santa Claus, bringing gifts for all the kids.

Crews Respond to Vegetation Fire

On December 7, 2012 at 10:41 AM, B526 and Chief 501 recieved an alarm for a vegetation fire on Interstate 40 near the 64.5 mile marker. Upon the units arrival, an additional two fires along the freeway were reported at the 64 and 63.5 mile marker. B516 and E521 were dispatched to assist with the fires. Units made a quick stop and contained all of the fires, totaling 1.5 acres. Crews remained on scene for approximately two hours while mop up operationd were completed. Although an investigation was not completed, it is the belief that the loss of tire tread was the result of all three fires.

E521 and B526 work on the 1 acre fire at mile marker 64.5

 

Photo Submitted by Engineer Ron Hood

Vehicle Stabilization and Patient Extrication Class

The Pinion Pine Fire District will be hosting a Vehicle Stabilization and Patient Extrictation class on November 17-18, 2012 which will prepare rescuers to successfully manage vehicle incidents safely and proficiently. The course will cover incident size-up, scene hazard management, vehicle stabilization, patient access and management, extrication techniques, and new car technology. Students will recieve a certicification through the Arizona Center for Fire Service Excellence upon completion. For more information, visit http://www.pinionpinefire.com/classes.htm. Class size is limited and students must be sponsored by their department.