Passing Motorist Reports Fire

Firefighters received a fire call Tuesday morning, not by a 911 call, but a knock on the Station-13 fire station door on Oatman Road advising them of a possible house fire just one block behind the fire station.  Firefighters arrived and discovered this 2004 Escalade engine and front dash board well involved in fire and threatening the garage it was parked in front of.  Quick action by firefighters and the fact the garage door was closed prevented the fire from spreading too far into the garage.   While investigators have yet to determine the exact cause, the family is thankful that it was reported from a passing motorist who left as quickly as he reported the fire.

Vehicle Accident on Highway 40

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Firefighter-Paramedics treat a 25-yar old male patient on the shoulder of Hwy-40 after being ejected in the car seen in the foreground

Christmas Eve afternoon at 4:00 PM proved to be a busy one for Golden Valley Firefighter-Paramedics who treated the driver of this compact car after he was ejected out the sunroof of his eastbound vehicle, landing on the edge of the highway nearly 100-feet from where his car came to rest on its wheels.  The 25-year old male driver who was the only occupant, who remained conscious, admitted to not wearing his seatbelt and was thrown from the vehicle as it rolled on Hwy-40 about Mile-Post 37.  The patient was transported to KRMC as a Level-1 trauma patient due to the mechanism of injury and speeds involved.  Chief O’Donohue reminds motorists to always wear your seat-belts that are designed to keep you within the safety zone of the interior of the car.  DPS remained on-scene to determine the cause of the accident.

Gift Delivery

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            Back: left to right:  Bryon Kimber, Captain Dave Cunningham and Engineer Chad Lewis

            Front:  5-year old Christina, 6-year old Anthony and 3-year old Draedon

Santa asked the Golden Valley Firefighters to make a delivery to a special family this season for 5-year old Christina, 6-year old Anthony and 3-year old Draedon while Mom and Dad stood by. Firefighter Bryon Kimber, Captain Dave Cunningham and Engineer Chad Lewis made the special delivery in person after the gifts were purchased by the Golden Valley Firefighter Association and wrapped with care by Administrative Manager Faye Morcom. Chief Tom O’Donohue said this is one of the most rewarding parts of serving the community, seeing these little faces light up when they received gifts they otherwise would not have been able to enjoy.  Golden Valley Fire chooses a family each year for this special delivery via the fire engine to brighten the holiday season for children in the community.

Explosion Damages Home

A 65 year-old Golden Valley resident is fortunate not to have been injured when her home exploded moments after she left at 11:05 am Monday morning.  According to the occupant at 4683 Stewart Mountain Road, she had just exited the home and gotten into her car when she heard an explosion and saw smoke coming from the home.  Fire Chief Thomas O’Donohue reports firefighters arrived to find black smoke coming from the bedroom area window that had been blown out from the force of the blast, and the rear wall of the house has been pushed out nearly 12-inches where it met the attic area.  Firefighters entered the home and quickly extinguished the fire that had consumed two beds and caused moderate fire damage and heavy smoke damage throughout the home.  The Fire Marshal was summoned and remains on-scene to determine the cause of the fire. In all, ten firefighters responded to the fire. The occupant was checked by paramedics, although she refused transport to the hospital.

Propane Fueled House Fire

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Firefighters survey the damage after extinguishing an early morning fire.

Two Golden Valley residents are fortunate to be alive this morning after a propane heater being used inside a home on Horse Mesa Drive appeared to malfunction at 5:50 a.m. Thursday morning.  Fire Chief Tom O’Donohue said the residents were using a propane heater reportedly approved for inside use when the resident heard a popping sound. The couple discovered fire had erupted around the neck of the propane tank, so they quickly moved the flaming tank and heater outside the home where the venting mechanism released, causing a rapid release of propane.  The fire spread from the tank and ignited the exterior of the home and extended into a bedroom window.  One neighbor came and used a garden hose to help extinguish the fire, keeping the fire extension to a minimum while firefighters were called.  While Chief O’Donohue discourages untrained persons from fighting fire in such dangerous circumstances, “the neighbor really helped contain the fire” he said.  The propane tank and heater have been taken as evidence as part of the fire investigation. The owner of the home was transported to KRMC for evaluation after the fire.   Fire official warn not to use heating appliances inside any enclosed space that is not specifically approved due to the threat of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Highway 93 Roll-over

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Golden Valley and Kingman Firefighters clean up after a single vehicle rollover on Hwy-93.

Thursday evening approximately 5:30 p.m. Golden Valley and Kingman Firefighters treated a 23-year old man reportedly from Kingman, after the vehicle he was driving south on Hwy-93 near the Port of Entry rolled and crossed the median, landing in the north bound lanes of highway-93 at the highway-68 exit.  The driver was critically injured and transported to KRMC and later flown via helicopter to a Las Vegas trauma Center for treatment.  Fire crews and DPS controlled traffic for over an hour while the patient was treated and the scene was investigated.  The cause of the accident is under investigation by DPS. 

Saturday evening at 5:25 p.m., Golden Valley Firefighters responded to a reported Commercial Structure fire at 2551 Oatman Road.  Motorists traveling on Hwy-40 just north of Shinarump Road called 911 and reported flames showing from the single story office type building.  Assistant Chief Ted Martin reports that fire crews arrived within minutes and reported a fully involved structure fire and that propane tanks were venting, causing the fire to grow rapidly.  Crews arrived and immediately extinguished the fire and cooled the adjacent propane tanks.  A search of the building, which was occupied at the time of the fire, revealed the occupant had left the building and was safe at another location on the property.  Firefighters kept the fire from spreading to other vehicle and boats stored nearby, however the structure and content were a total loss.  A total of 12 firefighters responded to the blaze and there were no injuries. The Golden Valley Fire Marshal is currently investigating the cause of the fire.

For the second time in a week, Golden Valley Firefighters respond to a structure fire that has critically injured a local homeowner.  Fire Chief Tom O’Donohue reports Friday night that a 71 year old female resident at the home located at 1237 South Crista Circle was cooking on when the frying pan reportedly “Flashed” according to the resident who was home alone at the time of the fire.  Firefighters arrived with six minutes of dispatch and reported a home that was 50% involved and found the patient across the street.  The 71 year old female was burned on her hands, arms and facial areas and the kitchen subsequently caught on fire, which spread rapidly through the north end of the home.  Firefighters treated the victim, who was transported to KRMC with critical burns and reportedly later transported via helicopter to the Las Vegas burn center.  Ten firefighters responded to this fire which remains under investigation. No other injuries were reported.

Propane Explosion

PHOTO:  Fire investigators work during the daylight hours to determine the cause of the Monday evening fire.

Monday at 6:36 p.m. Golden Valley Firefighters were dispatched to a fire and explosion in the area of Collins and Hope Road. Upon arrival, Firefighters discovered a fully involved 32-foot fifth wheel trailer approximately 30 feet from a private residence.  Firefighters discovered there were several additional propane tanks next to the burning trailer and there was a burn victim.  The fire was quickly extinguished as paramedics treated a 72 year old male patient who reportedly was inside the trailer lighting the propane stove when the explosion occurred.  The explosion ripped the back of the trailer off, throwing it over a fence and critically burning the occupant who was still inside.  The patient was treated on scene and transported to KRMC, later being airlifted to the Las Vegas Burn Center for treatment.  Crews remained on scene for approximately two-hours managing the scene and extinguishing hot spots. In all, ten firefighters responded. The trailer is considered a total loss, however the home adjacent the trailer was saved, only suffering minor heat damage.  The status of the patient is unknown at this time.

Highway 93 Rollover

Thursday at 12:27 pm, Golden Valley Firefighters treated the 68 year old female driver of this vehicle that was southbound on Hwy-93 at Mile-Post 58 when it rolled. The driver was found sitting outside her vehicle, which rolled at least once before coming to rest on its wheels.  Witnesses reported seeing the vehicle slide sideways on the highway before leaving the roadway and rolling off the west side of Hwy-93.  The driver, who was reportedly wearing a seatbelt, ultimately refused treatment or transport to the hospital.  The cause is still under investigation by DPS.

Single Vehicle Rollover

Thursday Night Golden Valley Firefighters responded to a single vehicle rollover in the 3800 block of Colorado Road.  Captain David Martin stated firefighters discovered a mid-size SUV that rolled with eight occupants, two of which required extrication.  Boarder Patrol Agents on scene assisted with the language barrier.  Captain Martin said a total of five ambulances were needed. Four from River Medical, one from Bullhead City Fire and one helicopter was required to transport the patients. The 21 year old male transported by helicopter went to Sunrise Medical Center with critical injuries, six went to Kingman Regional Medical Center and the last patient went to Western Regional Medical Center in Bullhead City. Scene was turned over to Mohave County Sheriff Office for investigation.

PHOTO:

Golden Valley Firefighter Robert Cole looks on as Joe Wise from Solar Traffic Controls installs the final touches to fire department warning signs.

This week Golden Valley Fire will begin using two new traffic warning devices on Hwy-68 at Mayer Road. In a cooperative agreement with ADOT, Golden Valley Fire secured the warning lights that were previously located at the entrance to Black Mountain Elementary School in Golden Valley.  Fire Chief Tom O’Donohue said after the entrance to the school was closed, it was the perfect opportunity to utilize the lights to warn motorists for both east and westbound traffic. With the addition of the highway standard picture of a fire engine, the warning lights are activated by firefighters to give advanced warning that an emergency vehicle is entering the intersection.  O’Donohue added, “As highway usage increases, these warning lights add yet another layer of safety for motorists and firefighters on Hwy-68 to warn of oncoming fire apparatus.” The total cost to the Fire District was approximately $3,800 and because they are solar powered, even monthly electrical costs were avoided.

Stucture Fire With Injuries

Golden Valley Fire responded to a structure fire at 3597 South Flint Road on Wednesday at 3:24 pm.  Firefighters discovered a fully involved 66-foot long mobile home, travel trailer and Toyota pickup truck.  The 72 year old male resident stated he accidentally ignited a towel and the fire spread so quickly once he exited the structure he couldn’t stop it, burning him around the face and chest in the process.  The resident was unable to call 911 since his cell phone was still inside the home, so the fire wasn’t reported until a neighbor saw the home well involved in flames.  Captain Duane Dunn reported smoke was visible 10-miles away as soon as the fire was dispatched.  The home is considered a total loss and is still under investigation by the Golden Valley Fire Marshal.  The 72 year old occupant was treated and transported to KRMC for burns received trying to extinguish the fire.  A total of 10 firefighters responded to the scene.

School Bus vs. Vehicle Accident

Golden Valley Fire was dispatched to a School Bus versus vehicle accident today at 7:19 am on Hwy-68 at Teddy Roosevelt Road.  Golden Valley Fire Chief Thomas O’Donohue reported the school bus from Kingman Unified School District was transporting students at the time.  Chief O’Donohue reported there were a total of 26 people involved in the accident. Of the 26 persons involved, 23 teenage students were on the school bus at the time of the accident. Golden Valley Paramedics triaged all students and 9 were transported to KRMC by AMR and 15 persons refused transport. The driver of the bus was also transported for unreported injuries. The driver of the Chevy Cavalier was killed in the accident, and a child passenger in front seat was transported to KRMC for evaluation for possible critical injuries. Chief O’Donohue reportedly utilized 6 ambulances, two fire engine companies and three command officers for 11 total fire personnel on scene.

Fire Restrictions Lifted

Golden Valley Fire Department will be lifting fire restrictions in the fire district as of Monday September 19, 2011 at 8:00 a.m.

Sufficient moisture has been received throughout the Golden Valley area making fire restrictions no longer necessary. Captain David Martin greatly appreciates the public's cooperation in helping to minimize the number of human caused wildfires within the fire district during this summer's drought conditions.

Residents are still required to obtain a Burn Permit when conducting a burn and must follow EPA regulations prohibiting the burning of any household trash or waste. Camp fires do not require a permit, however residents are asked to give the fire department courtesy call prior to enjoying their camp fires.

For information on open burning requirements call (928)565-3479, or visit our website at www.gvfdaz.com  

Remember only you can prevent wildfires.         

Golden Valley Fire purchases Eagle Academy

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Firefighters Bryon Kimber and Kevin Gifford put to use their firefighting skills at the old Eagle Academy School facility purchased by Golden Valley Fire.

Golden Valley Fire officials announced they have purchased the Eagle Academy School at 423 S. Colorado Road.  After the Eagle Academy closed its doors several years ago, the building has stood empty while investors tried to sell the nearly 13,000 square foot building which contains three classrooms, offices, conference room and a full gymnasium and the 10 acres it occupies.  The property had been on the market for more than 15 months with an asking price of nearly $700,000.  Fire Chief Thomas O’Donohue said the firefighters have been using the empty parking area for monthly Multi-Company Operations and driver training.  O’Donohue continued; “The central location for training and the safety offered to the firefighters from not operating on the roadway made this the perfect training grounds”.  The Fire District considered purchasing the property in May of 2011, but stopped the process due to the price.  “We kept a close eye on the property since it was nearly the perfect location, size and now the price”.  As the price continued to drop on the foreclosed property, the Board of Directors reconsidered and authorized the fire chief to negotiate within specific parameters.  The final negotiated price was $125,000 dollars, a fraction of what it cost to construct just the building.  The Fire District plans on utilizing the building and 10 acres for their training facility and making this a community building where organizations can use a larger meeting room.  “The hub of many community functions is often the fire department, and we want to be an even bigger part of our community,” O’Donohue continued.  Future plans in the works are to expand into a regional training facility utilizing grant funding and invite instructors from the National Fire Academy that can teach at the facility that require both indoor and outside venues.

Runaway Car Fire

Golden Valley Firefighters check for hot-spots after extinguishing a runaway car fire on Thursday afternoon at 3:52 pm.  The driver, Charles Wallace from Phoenix was driving eastbound on Hwy-68 when he smelled smoke and noticed his van was on fire.  When the driver attempted to stop at the U-Haul facility on Kirkland Road off of Hwy-68, he realized his brakes failed as well.  The driver went thru the open gate at the U-Haul storage lot and came to a stop when his van was impaled by the hitch of a pleasure boat stored on site.  Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, saving the boat and U-Haul truck parked alongside the van that was on fire.  The fire appears to have begun from a ruptured transmission line, possibly igniting the fluid that spilled onto hot exhaust pipes.  The 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager van is considered a total loss.

Golden Valley Fire goes green

Golden Valley Fire Officials announce the completion of their Energy Efficiency Lighting Upgrade project. The lighting at Station-11, Station-12 and the Administrative offices were replaced with more energy efficient light bulbs and ballasts.  Chief O’Donohue said this simple lighting modification along with turning lights off in unoccupied rooms will save thousands of dollars a year.  The project in conjunction with UniSource and contractor KER Electric will save approximately 33,856 KWH’s of energy, which eliminates the release of 22.2 tons of CO2 released into the environment annually. These savings are the equivalent to any one of the following: planting 6 acres of trees, removing five cars from the road, saving 2,795 gallons of gas or saving 67 barrels of oil.  Golden Valley Fire received approximately 60% of the funding from UniSource Energy for this project, making each of the three fire stations more “Green” for the environment.  The total cost of the project was $8,250.93, of which $5,226.55 of which was covered by UniSource Energy rebates. The balance of $3,241.81 that Golden Valley Fire budgeted for the project will be recouped in approximately seven months, after that it simply reduces the operating costs of each fire station. Chairman Curt Hardy added; “Energy efficiency is just one of the ways the Fire District is looking to trim the budget”.

 

Firefighters exit the building after conducting a primary search for occupants while exterior crews prepare to go back under the home looking for fire extension.

Golden Valley Firefighters got a quick upper hand on this Wednesday evening fire that occurred at 6:38 pm. The residents who were inside at the time of the fire said they were watching TV when the lights dimmed and the power went out. They immediately smelled and saw smoke coming from the South end of the home. The owner, identified only as Sandy, said she shut off the electrical panel and had the family grab pets and exit the home leaving all their valuables inside.  Chief O’Donohue said the fire erupted from underneath the house and spread up the side where firefighters swiftly extinguished it.  Fire damage was confined to the southeast corner room and under the home where it appears the fire began.  The homeowners don’t have insurance, so were thankful to see their belongings were relatively untouched by fire.  The homeowners praised the firefighters for a quick response and knockdown of the fire.  Fire Marshal Randy Osborn remained on scene to determine the cause.

Assistant Chief Testing and Meet & Greet

For the second time in 2011, Golden Valley Fire is testing for an Assistant Fire Chief.  Thomas O’Donohue, who took over as Fire Chief in February, began the process of selecting a replacement assistant fire chief at the request of the Board of Directors.  The process involved putting out a nation-wide calling for applicants, and through a selection process, the list was whittled down to five to seven finalists who have been invited to participate in a series of testing and evaluations at the Golden Valley Fire Department. After the completion of three days of evaluation that consists of physical, written and oral board testing, the department will make a tentative offer of employment pending a comprehensive background check.  In April 2011, the department eliminated the final four candidates who had come from as far as New York, after they collectively disregarded testing guidelines, causing the department to begin the process from the beginning.  The final five candidates are from Maryland, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and two from Arizona.  The community is invited to a candidate Meet-n-Greet the Department is sponsoring this Friday night at 6:00 pm at Fire Station-12 located at 749 S. Egar Road.

Tuesday afternoon at 2:15 P.M. Lake Mohave Ranchos Fire Department along with Golden Valley Fire Department and Northern Arizona Consolidated Fire District responded to a motor vehicle accident on southbound Highway 93 at mile post 47, that left one dead and three in critical condition. A full size Chevy 4-door pickup rear-ended a semi truck that was stopped alongside the highway at MP-47. Firefighters from the three agencies simultaneously utilized the Jaws of Life tools for over two hours to free each of the victims.  The male driver was pronounced dead on scene.  One firefighter was transported to Kingman Regional Medical Center with heat related injuries. Traffic was stopped for approximately two hours while the intensive extrication took place and to permit three helicopters to land on the freeway and await patient extrication.

Golden Valley Firefighters treat a 51 year old male patient from Japan who rear ended a FedEx semi that was stopped at the stop sign on the Shinarump exit off of Hwy-40.  The driver suffered moderate injuries in the collision that slowed traffic for an hour while crews treated the driver. Chief Tom O’Donohue said the injuries could have been much worse if the vehicle did not have air bags, which deployed in the accident.  The sole occupant was transported to KRMC for evaluation.

On Saturday July 9th Golden Valley Firefighters responded to two motor vehicle accidents at the same location, 62 minutes apart from each other on Hwy 68 and Estrella Road.

The first accident occurred at 12:13 P.M., involving two vehicles with three patients. The driver of the pickup truck that rolled over, a female in her 40's was extracted from the pickup and transported to Kingman Regional Medical Center with non life threatening injuries. The other two patients from the other vehicle were uninjured and refused treatment.

The second accident occurred at 1:15 P.M., while the first accident was being cleaned up. The second accident involved two vehicles; one T-Boned the other. The two female patients in the pickup truck, the driver in her 30's and the passenger in her 60's were transported to Kingman Regional Medical Center with non life threatening injuries. The driver of the car, a male in his 60's was treated on scene for cuts to his arm but refused to be transported.

Department of public safety is investigating both accidents.

Golden Valley Firefighters responded to a single vehicle roll-over on Interstate 40 at east bound mile post 40 in the medium, Friday afternoon at 2:15 P.M. Golden Valley Firefighter/Paramedics found a small Ford pickup truck had rolled multiple times with one patient trapped inside the vehicle. Captain David Martin stated that there were three patients. The driver, a 51 year old female needed to be extricated from the vehicle and was transported to Kingman Regional Medical Center with a major head injury. The other two patients, a male, 50 years old and a 9 year old boy were also transported to Kingman Regional Medical Center with minor injuries. Department Of Public Safety is investigating the accident. 

Thursday evening at 7:47 P.M. Golden Valley Firefighters responded to a single vehicle accident on Shipp Drive and San Pedro Road. Captain David Martin stated the vehicle was traveling west bound on Shipp Drive when the 16 year old female driver reportly lost control of her vehicle slamming into a power poll and shearing the poll off at its base. The driver and the passenger, who also was a 16 year old female, were treated on scene by Golden Valley Firefighter/Paramedics and were transported to Kingman Regional Medical Center by River Medical Ambulance with non life threatening injuries. Golden Valley Firefighters along with Mohave County Sheriff deputies stayed on scene untill midnight with Shipp Drive closed, while UniSource Energy installed a new power poll.  

Vehicle roll-over under investigation

Golden Valley Fire Department responded to a single vehicle roll-over on Shinarump Drive and Mohave Trails at 10:15 this morning. The 53 year old female driver lost control of her vehicle in the "S" curves of Shinarump Rd. and rolled multiple times, landing on the roof of the vehicle. Captain David Martin stated that the patient had to be extricated from the vehicle by Golden Valley Firefighters and Paramedics. The patient was transported to Kingman Regional Medical Center by River Medical Ambulance with multiple injuries and is listed as serious but stable. Mohave County Sheriff Department is investigating the accident.

Fatal Motorcycle Accident

Chief Tom O’Donohue reports that Golden Valley Fire Department assisted Bullhead City Fire on a multiple patient motorcycle accident on west bound Hwy-68 Friday afternoon at 1:30 pm.  An organized group of motorcyclists from Phoenix were traveling together when at least one rider came into contact with a vehicle reportedly traveling in the same direction.  A second rider reportedly tried to avoid the collision that sent the first rider into and over the west guardrail where firefighters discovered him deceased about 50-feet over the embankment.  The second motorcyclist was treated by firefighter paramedics and transported to a waiting helicopter for transport to a trauma facility in Las Vegas.  A growing brush fire was extinguished that began as a result of the motorcycle that crashed into the guardrail. Hwy-68 traffic was slowed for well over an hour while DPS investigated the scene.

Truck Fire closes Highway 93

Golden Valley Firefighters aggressively fought a U-Haul truck fire and associated brush fire Thursday at 4:45 pm.  The fire started in the back of the U-Haul truck and spread to the brush along north bound Hwy-93 according to Fire Chief Tom O’Donohue.  O’Donohue reported explosions were heard as fire units arrived, prompting closure of all north bound traffic for about 20-minutes for public safety concerns and due to the growing brush fire. Fire Officials utilized multiple resources due to the Red Flag conditions currently present in Mohave County, taking no chances on the fire spreading up into the hills.  The fire was brought under control within 4-minutes of arrival according to O’Donohue.  There were no injuries and the contents appeared to be a total loss. Golden Valley Fire Marshal Randy Osborn is investigating the cause of the fire which started inside the U-Haul cargo area.

Close call for Motorcyclist

Golden Valley Fire Department Engineer Chad Lewis stands alongside the crashed motorcycle holding the helmet that 58 year old Pamela Guy from Riverside California was wearing when she crashed on Hwy-68 at Mobile Road Thursday morning at 11:00 am.  Pamela and her husband left California this morning on their way to Williams, but their trip was cut short when a pickup pulled out from the Dollar Store area cutting off her and two other motorcyclists. Pamela skidded to avoid the collision and flipped her Harley Davidson motorcycle.  GVFD Chief Tom O’Donohue stressed the importance of wearing full safety gear to give you every advantage if there is an accident.  Pamela was wearing leather chaps and her helmet which skidded along the roadway, saving her head and face from severe injury.  Pamela donated her helmet to the Golden Valley Fire Department to show others the benefits of wearing a DOT approved motorcycle helmet. DPS is looking for the driver of the pickup that continued eastbound after the accident.

3rd Highway Rollover this week

Golden Valley Firefighters treat two victims of this single vehicle rollover on Hwy-68 eastbound at Mile Post 15.  Both occupants were transported to Kingman Regional Medical Center by RMI for traumatic injuries.  According to Fire Chief Tom O’Donohue, seatbelts were a positive factor in this accident where occupants could have been ejected as the vehicle rolled and the windows blew out.  Occupants were on their way to work at the Arizona State Prison when the accident concurred. This accident marks the third such highway speed rollover in the last week on Golden Valley freeways.  

I-40 Rollover

Two units from Golden Valley Fire Department, two units from Yucca Volunteer Fire District, and two ambulances from River Medical responded to a single vehicle, high speed roll-over on Interstate 40 at mile post 41 about 5:45 pm late Tuesday afternoon. The vehicle, a Ford F-350 pickup truck with four occupants was traveling west bound on Interstate 40 when a blown tire is believed to have caused the driver to lose control, roll over and land in the median. Two of the patients, a female of unknown age and a 14 year old male were ejected from the vehicle. The other two male patients, a  62 and 4 year old were restrained in the vehicle. The female patient was air lifted to University Medical Center, Las Vegas Nevada. The 4 and 14 year old males were treated on scene and transported to Kingman Regional Medical Center with minor injuries. The 62 year old driver refused care on scene. Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.   

Single Vehicle Accident

Golden Valley Firefighters and Paramedics responded to a single vehicle accident in the 3500 block of Bryce Road Friday night at approximately 10:37 pm. A Toyota pickup truck was occupied by two females ages 60 and 24 years old. The driver lost control of the truck, landing up on its side in the front yard of a residence. One of the female patients was partly ejected from the vehicle said Captain David Martin. Both occupants were extricated, treated and transported to Kingman Regional Medical Center with non threatening injuries. Mohave County Sheriff Department is investigating the accident. 

Highway 68 Rollover

Golden Valley Fire Paramedics responded to Highway 68 and Teddy Roosevelt Road for a single vehicle high speed rollover.
The Driver and passenger were ejected from a pickup truck onto the roadway, Wednesday after noon around 3:30 PM. Captain David Martin stated that both male patients, in their early to late 50's were transported to Kingman Regional Medical Center. One patient was pronounced dead at the hospital and the second patient was in critical condition. 
Captain Martin reminds us all to wear our seat belts to help keep us safe and secure in the event of an accident.

FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service, Las Vegas, NV

535 AM PDT TUE MAY 31 2011

Another pacific storm will move to just off the northern California coast by late tonight and then inland on Wednesday. This will result in a dry southwest flow aloft with increasing southerly surface winds.

Western portions of the area will experience windy conditions today with those conditions likely spreading eastward Wednesday. Low relative humidity values are also expected during this time frame and the potential combination of gusty winds, low afternoon relative humidity and dry fuels will likely create hazardous fire conditions. 

A fire weather watch remains in effect from Wednesday morning through Wednesday evening. A fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are possible.

Wrong-way Driver

Sunday evening was anything but routine for Golden Valley Firefighters.  While returning from an emergency medical call in the Sohi area, the four person crew in Attack-115 encountered a wrong-way driver in a Toyota Forerunner traveling Northbound in the Southbound lanes of Hwy-93.  Golden Valley Firefighter / Paramedic Jimmy Childers who was driving took evasive maneuvers and Acting Captain Duane Dunn activated the overhead red/blue lights and reported the incident to law enforcement officials.  The driver and front seat passenger both jumped from the still moving vehicle and ran into the hills in the Sohi area.  Firefighters reported the incident to DPS who was already looking for the vehicle along with MCSO deputies.  DPS arrived moments later and began a foot search of the area and shortly thereafter discovered two additional occupants inside the backseat area of the Toyota that came to rest in the roadway.  Fire Chief Tom O’Donohue said how proud he was of the crew that evening for not only avoiding a head-on collision with the fire apparatus, but for stopping this vehicle from colliding with other vehicles that would have encountered the wrong way vehicle, including a cluster of motorcycles that came up just a minute later. O’Donohue said: “If the firefighters hadn’t acted in such a professional manner to the incident, the outcome could have deadly for many innocent people”.  DPS took two persons into custody that were still in the vehicle and continued their foot search with the aid of the Ranger helicopter.

Hwy-68 & Colorado Accident

Golden Valley Firefighter-Paramedics treat three patients from this accident at Hwy-68 and Colorado Road Wednesday afternoon. Acting Captain Dunn and Firefighter Boss can be seen making preparations for extrication. The driver of the vehicle struck on the passenger side refused transport to the hospital, however the two occupants of the vehicle with the front end damaged were both transported to KRMC by River Medical. DPS officers closed a single eastbound lane to protect the safety of firefighters as they extricated the driver before transporting him to the hospital. The accident only closed one eastbound lane for about 30-minutes.

GOLDEN VALLEY FIRE DISTRICT RELAXES FIRE RESTRICTIONS

Fire Chief Thomas O’Donohue from the Golden Valley Fire District announced today that he will be relaxing the fire restrictions that did not allow the use of charcoal briquettes during the recent “Red Flag Warning” issued by the National Weather Service. Red Flag Warnings are announced when the potential for extreme fires are present. Low humidity and high winds precipitate such warnings according to O’Donohue. In lieu of restrictions, the Fire District will embark on an education campaign warning of the hazards associated with charcoal briquettes. Curt Hardy, Board Chairman said the District wants Golden Valley Citizens to enjoy the upcoming holiday weekend with fire safety in mind. While the Fire District maintains the right to restrict recreational type fires within the District, O’Donohue said he wants to apply reasonableness regarding restrictions and education as a prevention tool for the community. For those who are careless and start fires, there is always the civil liability for starting a fire that damages homes or property that can turn a holiday weekend into a disaster for all involved. For any questions regarding fire restrictions, call Station-11 at 565-3479 or visit them on the web at www.gvfdaz.com.

Blaze Destroys Home

Golden Valley Firefighters responded to a structure fire at 5001 Elgin Road at 2:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Initial reports from the resident indicated a person might have been trapped inside, which proved unfounded after an aggressive rescue effort by firefighters.

Captain David Martin reports a total of five apparatus and ten firefighters helped extinguish the fire. Fire Marshal Randy Osborn and two GVFD Fire Investigators determined the cause to be a faulty electrical circuit. Initial damage estimates to home and contents were placed at $80,000.

Golden Valley Fire Department reminds everyone of the importance of working smoke detectors and an exit plan that the entire family is familiar with.

GVFD Paramedic Academy

Students from the Golden Valley Paramedic Academy practice their intubation skills on a training mannequin under the supervision of Emergency Room Physician, Dr. Brian Scott. This hands-on class is part of the nine month, 1100 hour class. Captain David Martin said Golden Valley Fire expects to gain five more paramedics for a total of 15 paramedics at Golden Valley Fire after the final National Registry examination.  The 24 students came from local fire departments that sponsored this training opportunity.  Students pay $3,500 for the class which is instructed by Golden Valley Paramedics John Molitor and Rob Arnold.

Hwy-40 Semi Rollover

Golden Valley Firefighters team up with Kingman Fire crews to extricate the driver of a semi truck that careened through a guardrail on east bound Hwy-40 about 4:50 am. Golden Valley Fire Captain Dave Martin reported the semi truck contained ice cream and posed no hazard to rescue crews. The semi truck destroyed about 75 feet of guardrail before leaving the highway, ending up about 250 feet off the road before coming to rest on its top. The driver, a 49 year old male from Lake Havasu was transported to KRMC for evaluation after he was carefully removed from the destroyed cab of his semi truck. ADOT crews remained on scene to cleanup engine oil that leaked from the overturned truck. Captain Martin reports there was no fuel leaking. The cause of the accident is under investigation by DPS.
 

Firefighters carry the driver to the ambulance for transport to KRMC

Golden Valley Firefighters can be seen carrying the driver to the ambulance of the semi

 

Fire Marshal Promotion

 

Fire Marshal Randy Osborn is flanked by his
Mother and Father after his recent promotion


 

Earlier this month Randy Osborn celebrated 20-years as an employee with the Golden Valley Fire District and on April 13th he had another reason to celebrate; he was promoted to the rank of Fire Marshal. Fire Chief Tom O’Donohue said he is extremely proud of Randy’s accomplishments, abilities and obvious dedication to the Fire District. Randy’s Mother “pinned” Randy with his new Fire Marshal badge while his family looked on.
The Fire District is embarking on a full-time fire marshal program to make businesses and firefighters safer, and they should expect an increased presence from this point on. In addition to safety; O’Donohue said this program will work in conjunction with other measures such as increased firefighter training and improved 9-1-1 dispatching services to reduce homeowner and business fire insurance costs in the future. Osborn reports that upwards of 65% of all businesses that experience a fire never recover. Osborn continued: “It’s the job of the Fire Marshal to identify fire hazards and assist the business owner to make the proper corrections using national standards”. O’Donohue said Osborn’s duties will include also fire investigations to determine if it’s an arson case. Osborn will be responding 24 hours a day to all fires in homes and businesses to get a firsthand look at the scene, which will assist in his fire investigations.