By Jon Johnson
GRAHAM COUNTY – The Graham County Sheriff’s Office issued an illegal burning citation to Abel Bernal, 41, after a fire he set ignited an abandoned trailer and caused the callout of the Pima Fire Department.
According to a Sheriff’s Office report, authorities responded at about 4:23 p.m. on May 22 to an illegal burning call off W. Grandmas Drive south of Pima and east of Cluff Ranch Road.
Upon arrival, a single-wide trailer was fully engulfed, and the Pima Fire Department ultimately extinguished the fire.
According to Bernal, he didn’t intend to set the trailer on fire; instead, he meant to clear a small patch of debris near the trailer, and the wind spread it.
Bernal admitted that he was in the process of demolishing the trailer, as per a previous order from the county. He said the trailer was left on his property by a family member, and he has permission to demolish it. However, Bernal lacked a burn permit for the structure.
No other property was damaged, as the Pima Fire Department successfully contained the blaze. Bernal was then issued a citation for illegal burning.
