Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Pima firefighters battle a house fire on Friday.
By Jon Johnson
PIMA – A fire that started near a woodpile quickly spread to a nearby tree and a residential structure in Pima on Friday evening.
The fire began around 5:30 p.m. and was located at 267 South 400 West.
The Pima Fire Department attacked the blaze with three engines and was supported by the Thatcher Fire Department as well. An employee with the Graham County Electric Cooperative also responded and checked the utility line.
A passerby noticed the fire in a woodpile and at first thought, someone might just be burning weeds. However, upon closer inspection he saw the whole pile on fire and that it had spread to a nearby tree. The man then called for assistance.
The fire then spread to a utility pole and garage. The garage was burned to the ground, but when the Gila Herald left the scene at about 6:15 p.m. it appeared that the Pima Fire Department had stopped the fire from spreading into the main residence.
The fire also caught a neighbor’s truck on fire but it was quickly put out by the firefighters. “It needed new tires anyway,” the neighbor said.
According to neighbors, the residents are spending some time on Mount Graham and were not home at the time of the fire.
Since fire crews were still engaged during this write-up, the Gila Herald will follow up with the Pima Fire Chief later for any additional information. At this time, the cause of the fire is unknown.
