Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: The Pima and Thatcher Fire Departments burned down two structures in Pima on Saturday morning as part of a training exercise and clean-up program.
Program assists homeowners with dilapidated property removal
By Jon Johnson
PIMA – The Pima and Thatcher volunteer Fire Departments received valuable training on Saturday morning as they reduced two dilapidated properties to rubble.
The controlled burn took place on the southwestern corner of the intersection of 100 West and Center Street (Highway 70) and involved a dilapidated brick house and a rundown mobile home. The event was successful with no reported injuries.
As part of a town of Pima priority to clean up such properties, the town offers to help with removal costs by demolishing and/or burning structures to reduce leftover rubble that requires to be hauled away. In this case, the land was recently purchased and the new owner requested assistance with removal through the fire training. The landowner will have to dispose of any remaining debris.
Thatcher Fire Department trained on one structure while Pima tackled the other.
“It was good training,” said Pima Fire Chief Terry Earp. “Thank you to Thatcher for coming out and helping us.”
Pima Fire is still looking for EMT or paramedic-certified individuals to join their EMS team.
Pima Fire Chief Terry Earp reminds homeowners to be diligent when burning weeds. The area has been under a Red Flag fire warning due to high afternoon winds.
“Be careful burning weeds, especially close around buildings,” Earp said. “All three agencies have had house fires in the last two months over people burning weeds next to their houses.”
