By Jon Johnson
GRAHAM COUNTY – A Graham County Sheriff’s Office deputy quickly extinguished a small structure fire at a residential trailer on Sunday, preventing what could have escalated into a much more serious incident. Upon interacting with the occupants, the home’s occupants didn’t even realize it had caught fire.
Deputies were dispatched around 12:06 p.m. to reports of a fully engulfed trailer with possibly five people inside. Upon arrival, the deputy, accompanied by a detective, located the fire confined to the front steps of the trailer. The detective promptly put out the flames, bringing the situation under control before it spread further.
The homeowner explained that the fire likely started from a cigarette he had smoked earlier that morning. He was unaware that the trailer had caught fire until responders arrived. The resident confirmed that only he, his daughter, and her child were present in the home at the time.
Authorities advised the homeowner to exercise greater caution with cigarettes, emphasizing that trailers can ignite and burn rapidly once a fire takes hold. The resident acknowledged the advice and committed to being more careful in the future.
Safford Fire personnel responded to the scene to inspect the residence for any additional fire hazards or hidden damage. Southwest Gas also conducted an inspection to assess potential gas-related risks. After confirming there were no further threats, all responding agencies cleared the scene without further action.
Quick intervention by law enforcement helped avert injury and major property loss in this case. Residents are reminded to properly extinguish cigarettes and other smoking materials before disposing of them to prevent similar accidents.
