Structure Fire Dugas Rd. at Zuni Rd.

 

Photos by Butch Meriwether: 
8          Firefighter Matt Gore attacking the flames

11        Firefighters Cody Wood and Matt Gore turn their attention to the structure that has fallen down
23        Firefighters Cody Wood and Matt Gore extinguish the remaining portion of a wall 

Narrative: 
Following five residential structure fires in July, Golden Valley Firefighters started August with a bang, being called for the sixth home fire in the last five weeks. Thursday morning just before 8:00 am, on the way into the office, Assistant Fire Chief Ted Martin spotted a column of thick black smoke rising several hundred feet into the air approximately  three miles north of Hwy-68, near Egar Road.  Martin reported the structure fire via radio, which was at the southeast corner of Dugas Rd. and Zuni Roads. Firefighters quickly connected to a fire hydrant on the way into the fire, and extinguished what was remaining of the reportedly unoccupied double-wide dwelling. Golden Valley Fire Marshal Randy Osborn is investigating the fire as suspicious because the home was reportedly abandoned and had no power. There were no injuries and the building was totally destroyed. Anyone with information should contact the fire marshal. Golden Valley Fire Officials stated none of the fires appear to be related.

Unattended Candle Causes Home Fire

 
Photos (from top):
With the remains of the structure fire next door in the background, Captain Dave Cunningham discusses what was discovered after extinguishing the fire

Firefighters exit the home in the background while Captain Dave Cunningham discusses cleanup efforts

Firefighters (left to right) Matt Gore and Bryon Kimber exit the structure after extinguishing the fire

Chief O’Donohue discusses the recent rash of neighborhood fires with across the street neighbor

Narrative:

An unattended candle in a Golden Valley home started a fire, which Firefighters quickly extinguished, Sunday afternoon at 3873 N. Bowie Road. Ironically, this fire was next door to a fire that occurred just weeks before. The son of the owner was home at the time of the incident and did the right thing, according to Battalion Chief David Martin. Martin said; “He ran next door to the neighbors to report the fire”. Neighbors called 911 and reported the fire while keeping the young man away from the home. Arriving firefighters reported nothing showing when they arrived, however upon entering the home, discovered smoke from floor to ceiling. Crews confirmed there were no occupants still inside the home, and extinguished the fire in the main living area. Fire Marshal Randy Osborn was called to conduct the final investigation, confirming the point of origin was indeed a 10-inch candle. Fire Chief Thomas O’Donohue reports that candle fires account for a significant amount of fires in the home, advising candles should never be left unattended. There were no injuries from this fire reported, and damage was kept to a minimum due to quick reporting to 911 and swift actions of firefighters.

Exploding Gasoline Can Destroys Pickup Truck

Exploding Gasoline Can Destroys Pickup Truck

PHOTO:Firefighter-Paramedic James Childers extinguishes fire in the cab. 

NARRATIVE:
July 17th 2013, at approximately 5:10 pm, Golden Valley Firefighters extinguished a truck fire that reportedly began as an exploding gasoline can inside the pickup truck. After the first gasoline can exploded, the fire quickly spread and engulfed the late model Dodge pickup truck. A second gasoline can, which also exploded and was found approximately 50-feet from the pickup, started a grass and brush fire. Black smoke could be seen for miles as firefighters responded to the area of Tombstone and Chemehuevi Roads. The truck is a total loss, and there were no injuries according to Golden Valley Fire Battalion Chief David Martin. The cause is under investigation.

Midnight Fire Destroys Golden Valley Home

Photos:

Pic #5 (top):         The scene when firefighters arrives minutes after dispatch
Pic#11 (center):         Molten Magnesium metal explodes, sending molten metal across property
Pic #27 (bottom):        Captain Boyd Lewis and FF Gifford work through debris to extinguish fire 
Narrative:

Golden Valley Firefighters were busy beginning at the stroke midnight Sunday night when they were dispatched to a fully-involved structure fire in the 1300 block of South Dugas Road. When firefighters were dispatched, they could immediately see the flames from as far away as 10-miles. The first arriving fire engine reported a fully-involved structure fire with exposures. “The home, garage type structure and contents were well involved despite a rapid response,” reported Assistant Chief Ted Martin. Firefighters worked on extinguishment operations until about 4:00 am, assuring all the hot spots were eliminated. In all, 13 fire personnel responded to extinguish the blaze. The home is considered a total loss, although other structures on the property were spared. There were no injuries and the fire is under investigation.

Early Morning Structure Fire

Monday, July 8th at approximately 4:00 am, Golden Valley Firefighters responded to a reported brush fire around Hermit & Stewart Mountain Road. Instead of a brush fire, firefighters discovered a fully involved travel trailer and garage-type structure nearly burnt to the ground on Teddy Roosevelt, just north of Mesa Verde Drive. Firefighters quickly extinguished the remains, preventing the fire from spreading and starting a brush fire. Chief O’Donohue reported the Golden Valley Fire Marshal was called to the scene to investigate. There were no occupants in the travel trailer and the property owners were not on-scene during extinguishment operations. The trailer and contents were a total loss, and no injuries were reported. 

Structure Fire Challenges Golden Valley Firefighters

PHOTOS (from top):
Firefighters arrive to find heavy smoke coming from underneath and from the attic area, work being done on hot-spots after the fire was extinguished, overhauling the interior, pulling ceiling tiles to look for fire extension

NARRATIVE:

Golden Valley Firefighters responded to a structure fire at 3887 N. Bowie Road at 8:00 am on Tuesday, July 2nd after a neighbor discovered the fire, initially thinking the homeowner was having an illegal burn. Firefighters arrived within two minutes to discover the underside of the doublewide on fire, as well as the bedroom and attic area. The initial crew made entry and determined there were no occupants, which was later confirmed by neighbors who stated they were on vacation. Firefighters were forced to enter the building from the side that was well involved in fire due to a large volume of storage in the front room, which is counterintuitive, according to Chief O’Donohue. Despite strong winds which accelerated the fire growth, the fire was declared under control with thirty-one minutes of arrival, saving the majority of the structure. O’Donohue reported that three engine companies, two water tenders, three chiefs, fire marshal, and several off-duty personnel responded to quickly mitigate the fire. “We take no chances when it comes to saving homes or ensuring firefighter safety”, O’Donohue said. There were no injuries and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Golden Valley Firefighters Handle Hazardous Materials Release

PHOTO:
A plume of Ammonia gas can be seen escaping from a leak at the Griffith Energy Plant while Firefighters begin to make entry.

NARRATIVE:
Golden Valley Fire firefighters responded to an Ammonia leak at the Griffith Energy Plant in the Golden Valley Industrial corridor near Mile-Post 37 on Hwy-40 Sunday June 30th in the evening at 6:30 pm.  Fire Chief Thomas O’Donohue reported that, according to Griffith Energy officials, a nipple on a half-inch pipe for an Ammonia tank failed causing the moderate release of approximately 5,200 pounds, or 6,000 gallons of Ammonia into the atmosphere.  The release initiated the evacuation of the Griffith Plant as well as the precautionary notification of the Arizona State Prison, Praxair and ADOT of the incident should there have been a catastrophic release of ammonia according to Chief O’Donohue.  O’Donohue reported Golden Valley Fire, Kingman Fire, DPS and Griffith Energy Hazardous Materials Teams made entry into the Ammonia plume created by the leak.  MCSO assigned a sergeant, who assisted with plume monitoring around the plant.  O’Donohue stated hazardous materials operations are slow and deliberate to assure the safety of both firefighters and citizens.  O’Donohue stressed, while precautionary measures were put in place, at no time was the public in danger because the Ammonia plume was kept on site.  The hazard was eliminated just before 9:00 pm.

Moving day for Golden Valley Fire

June 20th, 2013

Today’s move was planned nearly 8 months ago when the Golden Valley Fire District Board of Directors approved a plan brought to them by Fire Chief Thomas O’Donohue to construct a new fire station, ultimately located at 3480 Bacobi Road. The new “Station-11” will replace the Mayer Road station that was constructed in 1979. “The new fire station location better serves the community” said O’Donohue, outlining how this moves covers the SoHi area which, until now, was outside the 5-mile distance to qualify for lower insurance rates. It is one of three full-time firefighter/paramedic staffed fire stations, the others are Station-12 at 749 Egar Rd and Station-13 at 2790 Oatman Road. The Golden Valley Fire District’s Public Safety Training Center located at 423 S. Colorado Road, is planned to fill a void as well as part of a strategic plan to bring lower insurance rates to a growing section of Golden Valley according to O’Donohue. The new station, which cost approximately $830,000, has an estimated value closer to 1.5 million dollars as estimated by Board member Steve Robinson. The difference between the value and the final cost was due to consistent attention to cutting costs, and use of inmate labor that saved approximately a half-million dollars in labor expenses alone. The new 12,000 square foot fire station boasts six bedrooms, large kitchen, exercise room, large dayroom that can double for training and meetings, larger captain’s office, firefighter report and study room, and space for up to eight emergency apparatus. The Administrative offices will remain at the old facility while the Board considers options to expand to meet growing needs. An open house for the public is planned for early July.