Griffith Energy Contract

Like many fire departments; the Golden Valley Fire District is faced with a shrinking budget as assessed values continue to decrease. With this; the Board of Directors have been doing what fire departments across the country are; exploring optional funding to meet the needs of the community in an effort to leave the fire taxes where they are. Chief Thomas O’Donohue said; “Emergency medical and fire suppression costs are on the rise, as well as calls for service. In addition to in-house money saving programs, we are looking for alternative funding sources”.
One such funding source is a recent contract between Golden Valley Fire and Griffith Energy. This contract will bring $295,000 a year into the Fire District for the next five years. In addition; provisions in the contract allow for an adjustment upward if the Fire District provides an operational fire station within 5-miles of the facility. O’Donohue continued; “Since Griffith Energy is just outside the District boundary; we had two choices: enter into a contract and provide services, or back up a private provider who would call for our assistance”.
Griffith Energy Plant Manager Mike Hartsig says: “We had to make a decision between four organizations competing for the contract, although not the least expensive option, the services provided by Golden Valley Fire provided the best overall fit for our needs . In addition; we want to have a positive relationship with the community in which many of our employees live.” said Hartsig. Chief O’Donohue said a significant portion of the contract will be used to bring improved training to the firefighters that meets the specific needs of Griffith Energy and enhances emergency services to the region. The result is a superior trained firefighter, which benefits our community on every single emergency incident. With the long safety record of Griffith Energy, the District will receive a substantial benefit of stable income, training, and a hand in their continued success in our community.

Rash of structure fires hit Golden Valley

Golden Valley Fire District has been quite busy over the last month with an abnormal amount of residential structure fires. Sunday’s fire came on the heel of three others in the last month. The fire Sunday was reported to 9-1-1 at 1:54 pm at West Miramar Road. Residents reported smoke from underneath the home and evacuated the residence. Firefighters immediately went under the home and discovered a fire that was just about to turn tragic. Chief O’Donohue commented that it was fortunate that this was during the day when the owners were awake and smelled the smoke, adding: “The best insurance is a properly working smoke detector”. Firefighters worked for over an hour inside and under the home to remove most of the insulation and dismantle portions of the furnace to track down the cause of the fire. Investigators remain on scene to determine the cause. Although the occupants will be displaced for several days, there were no injuries to report.

Santa Arrives in a Fire Truck

It wasn't Santa's sleigh but rather a Golden Valley fire truck that brought holiday cheer to a valley family this Christmas.

Seven-year-old Katelynn Voltz and her sister Krissy, 4, were the first to see the fire truck with its lights flashing making its way down the rain soaked road to the family's home in Golden Valley on Christmas Day. The girl's grandmother, Diane Swaim, knew someone was coming to visit the family that day, but she certainly wasn't expecting the fire department.

Swaim and her husband, Greg, have been serving as de facto parents of sorts for Katelynn and Krissy after the girls' mother, Greg's daughter, fell ill shortly after moving to the valley from Indiana in November 2008. Charity Voltz nearly died after suffering a grand mal seizure in April 2009, although it would be 18 months of tests and hospitalizations before doctors knew what was wrong.

At the same time she was dealing with her illness, the young mother was going through a divorce and Krissy was diagnosed with autism.

Charity's doctors formally diagnosed her with a collapsed palate this March, which was causing her to get only 30 percent of the oxygen she should have been getting. A tracheostomy has brought that percentage up to 98, but it has left her housebound and susceptible to infections.

Greg and Diane live with the family and since Charity's illness have assumed the roles of mom and dad. Both hold part time jobs, but after Greg took a leave of absence after an allergic reaction to latex at his job just after Thanksgiving, finances for Christmas gifts for the girls looked especially bleak.

The family receives services for the girls from Mohave Mental Health, which partners with MIKID (Mentally Ill Kids In Distress) to provide support in dealing with Krissy's autism. Krissy is almost 5, but acts more like a 2-year-old, her family said. She has a domineering, independent personality, but is only now just learning to talk and be potty trained. By contrast, her older sister Katelynn is more shy and reserved, in part because of her fear for her mother's well being, Diane said.

MIKID serves a number of families around the state, including 17 in Golden Valley and Kingman. The group has a working relationship with the Golden Valley Fire Department, which last month raised more than $1,800 for the organization.

MIKID contacted the department and arrangements were made for the firefighters to visit the family in the fire truck, minus the reindeer. The girls' great-grandfather, Walter Carr, said the girl's were overwhelmed by the gifts, which included developmentally geared toys for Krissy.

The family's church, the Boulder Springs ward of the Church of Latter Days Saints, also pitched in, providing the family with a Christmas dinner and an additional four boxes of toys and clothing.

"The one thing Katelynn really wanted was a new pair of shoes," Carr said. "She'd worn the others down on the bottom and sides."



Clothes are fine, but Katelynn said her favorite gift was a toy cash register. The firefighters' visit may have also influenced what she wants to be when she grows up. She used to want to be a police officer. Now she wants to be a firefighter.

Golden Valley Fire Captain Dave Martin said he was glad he and his fellow firefighters could make a difference.
"It was beautiful," he said. "It was nice to see the kids' faces light up like that when you give them presents."

The family says they were blown away by the generosity of their church and fire department and said it reinforces their sense of community.

"We're very grateful for all the wonderful help we've gotten this season," Diane said. "Without them, we don't know what we would have done. It's nice to know there are people out there who care and it really shows."

Story by Erin Taylor of Kingman Daily Miner

Single Vehicle Accident

Golden Valley Firefighter-Paramedics treat the victim of a single vehicle accident on Hwy-40 at MP 45. The vehicle traveling Eastbound struck the guardrail head-on and the guardrail pierced through the entire length of the truck striking the driver. The truck caught fire with the driver still inside. The only occupant of the vehicle was discovered outside the burning vehicle by two men who stopped to help just after the accident. They moved the patient away from the fully involved vehicle as fire crews from Golden Valley and Kingman Fire arrived. The patient was transported to KRMC and flown via Care Flight helicopter to the Las Vegas Burn Center. The accident which occurred at 12:58 is currently under investigation by DPS.

A True Inspiration

It is not an uncommon site to see one particular Golden Valley resident on litter patrol before the break of day. 72 year old Chuck Speir retired to Golden Valley ten years ago after a long career as a cross country truck driver.  Mr. Speir seemed somewhat uncomfortable receiving any attention for his volunteerism when Assistant Chief O’Donohue of the Golden Valley Fire Department made Mr. Speir an honorary fire department member of sorts providing a department issued reflective vest to this inspirational man.  “This is how I choose to give back to my community” says Mr. Speir.  Chuck says he generally performs his self prescribed community service between the hours of 5 and 7:30 in the morning six days a week.  “I take either Saturday or Sunday off to attend mass but other than that I am out here” says Chuck.  Mr. Speir’s wife of 41 years worries for her husband’s safety being out before the break of day.  Chief Hewitt of the Golden Valley Fire Department:  “Mr. Speir is truly an unsung hero, providing an inspirational example for all of us”.  Chief Hewitt cautions all motorists to give pedestrians the right of way and to remain aware at all times of citizens walking alongside roads without sidewalks.  It is the hope of Mr. Speir to inspire other Golden Valley citizens to join in this litter free cause.