Rural Metro credits Cave Creek home owner for fire suppression

STAFF REPORT ~ 6/29/2011

Thanks to some preventative clearing measures by a home owner, a brush fire, which started at approximately 12:30 p.m. in Cave Creek Thursday, was limited to approximately a .25 of an acre.
John Kraetz, of Rural Metro in charge of Cave Creek, said a quick response by firefighters also was key, but that a property clear of brush was vital in keeping the damage to a minimum.
“It stopped the flame dead in its tracks,” he said. “If that hadn’t been the case it could have run through the whole Northeast side of Cave Creek.”
The fire, which took place near 74th Street and Highland Road, occurred when a box delivery truck was trying to make a u-turn and hit a power line.
“He caught the electrical wires between the telephone poles,” he said. “They dropped to the ground and caught fire.”
Kraetz said that fire crews were aided by a lack of wind at the time, but reiterated that taking the time to create defensible space around properties can lessen the chance of a structure catching fire and keeping a fire from spreading to surrounding land where other fuels exist.
Due to severe conditions Maricopa County Board Chairman Andy Kunasek signed an emergency declaration earlier this month, temporarily restricting open fires, camp fires consumer fireworks, and other sources of ignition within unincorporated Maricopa County.
“We can’t ignore the present risk,” said Pete Weaver, director of Maricopa County emergency management. “What we are seeing in other parts of the state remains a distinct possibility here given local conditions.”
Weaver cited the 2005 Cave Creek Complex fire as an example of how wildland fires can impact desert areas and suburban communities.
County emergency management officials have monitored conditions for months with growing concern. In addition to consulting with various local emergency managers and fire districts within Maricopa County, emergency management officials also cite concern about fire response to those areas outside of rural fire districts.
Restrictions will remain in place until the reasonable risk of fire has subsided. “We’re all hoping the monsoons bring more rain than dry lightening,” said Weaver. “That will alleviate the need for restrictions.”