Regardless of your training, qualifications, or physical ability, we need your help!  We have many volunteer positions available and can work around your needs and schedule.

A home that survived the 500,000 acre Wallow Fire, becasue of the defensible space the homeowners created

Every October as the weather starts to cool, the brown needles from the Ponderosa Pines start to fall along with the leaves of all the other trees.  This creates quite a fire hazard for private property across the Bradshaw Mountains.  We are now to the point that we are experiencing significant wildland fires year-round in Arizona.  Only two weeks ago we had the 20 acre wildfire called the Lookout Fire just about 1 mile outside of our fire district.  We can expect this fire danger to stay here until we get a significant amount of rain or snow accumulation.

In the mean time, it is very important for homeowners to maintain their defensible space around their properties.  There are a few major steps you can take this winter to make sure your property is as safe as possible.

• Make sure that your roofs and gutters are void of any pine needles or leaves.
• Rake at least 30 feet out from the buildings on your property.  On steeper slopes we recommend raking as far out as 75 feet.
• Store firewood at least 30 feet away from the house.
• Make sure you have a clean chimney and good spark arrestor.
• Store fireplace ashes in a safe container.  Cardboard boxes and plastic buckets are not safe containers.

Traditionally, we have had a crew that can asssist you in getting this work done.  The crew is now unavailable for pine needle raking.

There are several services available to you this year:

• We have a dumpster that is at the fire station that is free of charge for residents of our community.  You can haul as many pine needles and leaves as you can fit.
• We also have Jeff Archer who is available to come out to your property after you have done the work and give you a firewise assesment to make sure that your property is as defendable as possible.
• Some of our employees are interested in making some extra money by raking on the weekends.

If you are interested in these services or have any questions please call the firehouse at 928-778-6519

These 3 events raised $1803.68 to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  A big thanks to all of our community members and everyone else who helped the Groom Creek Firefighter’s Association put on these events!!!!!

This schedule in not set in stone and can be changed at a moments notice.  It is purely a reference.

September

We are teaming up with the Muscular Dystrophy Association to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy treatment and research.  All proceeds from bingo night will go to the MDA.  We will be taking Donations for MDA during the Spaghetti Dinner.  Your help and support is greatly appreciated!

Saturday, September 3rd

Spaghetti Dinner @ 5:00 PM

Adults $10, Kids 3-12 Yrs $5, Kids Under 3 are FREE!

Bingo Starts @ 6:30 PM

Same ‘ol Bingo, just 30 minutes later.  Always a good time!

• Cost will now be full price. Contact Neal or Jeff at the fire station for an estimate.
• The crew will be completing all raking jobs that have been requested before 7/24/11 at the discounted rate.
• Dumpsters are still going to be offered at our fire station free of charge.
• Time frames for these jobs will be very extended.  If you are interested in getting your yard raked sooner than later, feel free to call the fire station.  A few of our personnel are interested in doing these jobs for you on the side. 
• We are continually applying for more grants to provide our community with the best services and lowest prices available.

If you live in the Spruce Mountain or Mount Tritle areas, we would love to talk to you about the services that we can offer under this program.

Thank you all for your patience and support with all of our fuels projects.  We are very proud of or community for being so proactive with defensible space and wildfire safety.  If you have any questions feel free to fill out a fuels request form.