We will attempt to evaluate the skill stations when you are here for your next shift (by the end of May). If you do not have a shift scheduled, call Chief Manzanedo.

Incident: Gladiator Wildfire – May 15, 2012 @9:30pm

Size: approximately 2,000 acres

Containment: 5%

Cause: Human Caused; originated from a structure fire on private property

Time/Date Started: Sunday, May 13 @11:00am

Location: Community of Crown King (T10N, R1W, S14)

Jurisdiction: Private property and the Prescott National Forest

Fuels: Ponderosa pine and chaparral

Values at Risk: The community of Crown King and the Horsethief Basin. Additional threats are posed to Forest Service campgrounds, lookout towers, communications sites, power lines and historic sites within the forest.

Terrain: Steep, rugged, difficult access

Resources: 3 Type-1 Crews, 4 Type-2 Crews, 11 Engines, 3 Type-1 Helicopters, 1 Type-3 Helicopter, 6 Type-1 Airtankers, Air Attack

Total no. of personnel: 462

Injuries to date: 2

May 14, 2012 @ 7:00 am

• Size: 600 Acres
• Containment: 0%
• Cause: Human Caused
• Time/Date Started: Sunday, May 13 @11:00am
• Location: 4 Miles North of Crown King (T10N, R1W, S14)
• Fuels: Ponderosa pine, brush and chaparral
• Terrain: Steep, rugged, difficult access

Resources: 3 Type-1 Crews, 4 Type-2 Crews, 11 Engines, 1 Type-1 Helicopter, 1 Type-3 Helicopter, 3 Type-1 Airtankers

The Gladiator Fire was reported on Sunday, May 13 at 11:00 am near community of Crown King.  The human caused fire which originated from a structure fire on private property has now moved onto the Prescott National Forest.   At this time the fire is being managed by the State and Prescott National Forest.  This afternoon Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team, Joe Reinarz Incident Commander, will assumed management of the Gladiator Fire.

Burning in ponderosa pine and chaparral, the Gladiator Fire is threatening the community of Crown King and the Horsethief Basin.  Additional threats are posed to forest service campgrounds, lookout towers, communications sites, power lines and historic sites within the forest.  Forecasted dryer weather and associated strong erratic winds may complicate suppression efforts.

Fire crews will continue working to suppressing the fire and provide structure protection to homes in the community.  On Sunday, May 13 three structures were confirmed lost in the fire.

Firefighter and public safety are the first priority.  Steep terrain and limited access are causing complications in the safe approach to the fire.  All roads leading into the community of Crown King are closed; this includes the Cleator – Crown King Road (County Road 59), Senator Highway to Crown King (County Road 52) and Forest Road 192.

A mandatory evacuation is in effect for the community of Crown King.  An evacuation center has been established for the residents of Crown King at the Mayer Valley High School – 17300 E Mule Deer Drive, Mayer, AZ.  Red Cross personnel will be on hand to assist those arriving from Crown King and can be reached at 928-237-6751. The Red Cross CANNOT provide information on the status of the fire or evacuation order specifics. If someone is trying to locate family or friends from the Crown King area, this IS the number to call.

The public can obtain fire information via the following:

• Prescott National Forest Fire Information Hotline: 928-777-5799
• Prescott National Forest Web Site: www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott

We wish the Colin, Shannell, Jake and Aaron the best in thier new adventures!

Under the authority of the International Fire Code and Wildland Urban Interface Code adopted by the Groom Creek Fire District the following restrictions will be implemented on Private Land within the District beginning Tuesday May 15, 2012 at 12:00pm noon and running through July 31^st or until further notice. (Authority:  A.R.S § 37.623)

The restrictions have become necessary due to increased fire danger and are being implemented to prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public health and safety. Contributing factors are weather conditions – high temperatures, low humidity and high wind; as well as the conditions of desert and forest landscapes statewide including dry brush and grasses.

The prohibition will apply to Private Lands within the Groom Creek Fire District. As always, Fireworks, sparklers and other pyrotechnic devices are prohibited within the Groom Creek Fire District.

The restrictions are as follows:

• Building, maintaining or using a fire, campfire, or charcoal burning device is prohibited. (Petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns, or heating devices are exempt from these restrictions.);

• Smoking is prohibited unless: it is within an enclosed vehicle, building, developed campground, or in an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials;

• Welding or operating acetylene or other torch device with an open flame is prohibited.

State, Federal, and local fire and law enforcement officers as well as members of organized firefighting forces are exempt from these prohibitions while in the performance of official duties.

Prescott National Forest Fire Restrictions

Noting that firefighting resources are tied up in the Gladiator wildfire and others across the state, the Prescott, Coconino and Kaibab national forests announced Monday they will start fire restrictions by Tuesday and Wednesday, May 15-16.

“We don’t need another fire to start accidentally,” Prescott National Forest Supervisor Betty Mathews said. Fire Restrictions start on the Prescott forest at noon on May 15, 2012.

Campfires and other flames are banned outside paid campgrounds and picnic areas on the national forests. That ban includes free dispersed, marked campsites in the Prescott Basin. Camping is always banned outside marked sites. Smoking is limited to enclosed vehicles, buildings or developed campgrounds on the three national forests. Fireworks are never allowed on national forests.

The above is essential for us to be able to provide this free service each year!

The Dumpster is Here!

We appreciate the community’s support and labor put into making Groom Creek a safer and more beautiful place. The dumpster program is where the Groom Creek Fire District provides a large dumpster at the fire station that residents can use to dispose of UNBAGGED yard litter (pine needles, leaves, small branches).

Dumpster Program Rules:

• Place all material as far forward in the container as possible.
• Do not overfill – the top of the container is the maximum allowed by the trash bin provider (to avoid extra charges).
• Dumpers available on a first come / first served basis to Groom Creek Fire District Residents ONLY.
• Clean up all materials that miss the container before you leave.
• Close container doors when completed.
• NO BAGGED ITEMS!!
  Dispose of only unbagged pine needles and leaf litter in these containers (slash and other materials can be chipped – see Jeff Archer for details). Very small diameter branches (under 1/4″ in diameter) are ok.

The dumpster is scheduled to be emptied/replaced every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Please call Neal Pinson at 928-778-6519 if you have any questions about this program.

• Fire prevention and control
• Public education
• Emergency medical services
• Public assistance

Fire Prevention:
The Department is staffed with one full-time chief and several part time officers, all of whom assist with fire prevention in the community. Fire prevention efforts include Hazardous Fuels Mitigation, property inspections (when requested by a property owner), smoke alarm maintenance and installation and public education seminars to assist our community in fire prevention. Not only does our department provide formal fuels mitigation, Chief Bentley has been extremely proactive in area thinning projects, many of which are officially outside of our district but still provide safety to our community by creating natural fire barriers. These projects are in conjunction with other agencies such as the Prescott National Forest, Yavapai County, the City of Prescott, Prescott Fire Department as well as numerous private property owners.

Public Fire Education:
The Department utilizes on duty fire personnel, neighboring agencies and local public forums to deliver fire education programs to age groups from elementary school-age children to senior citizens. Fire prevention, survival from fire and the proper use of fire extinguishers are just some examples of this program.

Structure Fire Suppression:
The Department operates 3 engines and 2 water tenders to suppress fires in buildings and vehicles. Buildings range from single family dwellings, multiple dwellings, camp buildings and various types of out-buildings. An incident command system called National Interagency Management System (NIMS) is utilized to provide for life safety to civilians and firefighters, incident stabilization and property conservation. GCFD also has standing mutual aid agreements with Prescott Fire Department, Central Yavapai Fire Department and the Prescott National Forest so that those agencies will automatically respond to larger incidents.

Wildland Fire Suppression:
Wildland incidents range from fires on private land in the area as well as on public lands nearby. With the recent drought conditions of the area and the millions of dead Ponderosa Pine in the vicinity (victims of the drought and the recent Bark-Beetle epidemic) it is more important than ever to be ready to respond to a wildland incident and employ suppression tactics immediately. GCFD has personnel experienced in wildland fire suppression, and has a Forest Service lookout tower above the community which aids in early warning of an incident.

Severity Patrols & Out-of-District Response:
During the summer months Groom Creek Fire District participates in area severity patrols and will respond to mutual aid requests for off-district wildland incidents. These patrols & responses are funded by the State of Arizona and not only help ensure enough manpower and equipment is available during the peak fire season, but are a great opportunity for our district to earn funds to support the department. All funds earned during these severity patrols are put back into the district’s wildland fire response program for things such as equipment, firefighter training, etc.

Emergency Medical Services:
The Groom Creek Fire District provides basic life support to the community. Firefighters trained as emergency medical technicians are first responders to call involving heart attacks, trauma from injury or accidents, pre hospital child delivery or medical emergencies from illness. The ability to arrive on scene with well trained personnel within seven minutes on average is one of the keys to success in delivering timely pre hospital care at the first responder level. As well as the GCFD EMT first-responders, an ambulance is automatically dispatched to the scene to transport any patient if required. More on EMS…

Hazardous Materials Incident Mitigation:
The Fire Department is charged with managing incidents that involve hazardous materials. Department members are trained at the Haz-Mat First Responders operational level with regards to diking, patching, controlling and decontamination if it can be done with little or no risk to the responders. The incident command system is used to provide command, control and coordination of resources including evacuating residents, activating other support agencies such as the PFD Haz-Mat team, State of Arizona D.E.Q., A.D.O.T., Y.C.S.O. and other public or private entities as required.

Thanks

Every Saturday night at 6:00, a bingo night is held at the Groom Creek Fire Station 41. The fun is open to the general public.

• Saturday nights beginning May 5, 2012
• Time: 6:00PM to 8:00PM
• 50/50 split pot (50% goes to the players, and 50% is donated to the Groom Creek Firefighters Association)
• Cards are $1 each
• Popcorn, snacks, and dobbers available.

The Groom Creek Fire Station is located at 1110 E. Friendly Pines Road in Groom Creek.

Driving directions from the intersection of Gurley and Mt. Vernon in Prescott

View Larger Map

The dumpsterproject is covered by its’ own grant award and we need to show 10% matching funds for the dumpsters. Please complete a sweat equity form online or paper version available at the fire station (or submit reciepts with proof of payment for contracted labor) so that we can continue to offer this program to the community at no cost.

Once the construction is complete, we will have a paved route from the fire station throught the area to Marapai that can be maintained by snowplows in the winter. This will greatly improve our response capabilities under adverse conditions. This paving was postponed to allow the Groom Creek Water Users Assn. to complete their system upgrade.

We apprecitate the support of Yavapai County Public Works to continue to make Groom Creek a safer place to live.