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Prescott Fire and Hotshots fight regional blazes
Friday, June 15, 2012
Though Prescott Fire personnel and the Granite Mountain Hotshots have been outside the city fighting the Gladiator, Whitewater-Baldy, and Superior wildfires, the City of Prescott maintains sufficient resources to protect the community during times of high fire danger. "Prescott Fire has developed a policy that ensures that we maintain the ability to protect the safety of life and property right here in Prescott," says Wildland Fire Division Chief Darrell Willis.
Prescott Fire recently responded to a recent Prescott National Forest request for assistance to battle the Gladiator fire. "We sent out an engine with four firefighters including twenty Granite Mountain Hot Shots and a Structure Protection Specialist assigned to the Pine Flat and Turkey Creek areas," adds Willis. The crews were deployed to the head of the Gladiator blaze, tasked with preventing the fire from encroaching on populated areas surrounding the City of Prescott.
According to Willis, following successful containment of the Gladiator fire, Prescott units were redeployed to the Whitewater-Baldy Complex fire in New Mexico for two weeks. They have since returned safely to Prescott. To date, the Whitewater-Baldy fire has burned over 1 million acres and is 56% contained. It has been declared the largest wildfire in New Mexico state history.
Willis is currently on scene for the Superior, Arizona fire, but said by phone that when Prescott Fire Department resources are on a wildfire assignment outside of the city, the City is reimbursed for all costs associated with the mobilization through the Arizona State Land Department.