By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A woman who started a large fire in a grill inside a carport by using firewood Sunday faces a possible charge of endangerment.
The woman, Kimberlee Hawkins, was forced to put out the fire and was advised that the endangerment charge would be reviewed by the Graham County Attorney’s Office.
According to a Safford Police report, an officer was dispatched at about 6:35 p.m. to a residence on E. 8th Street regarding illegal burning.
Upon arrival, the officer noticed a grill with a fire billowing out over its closed lid that was partially propped up by firewood that was too big to fit inside the grill. Additionally, the grill was located inside a carport close to a wall and the smoke from the fire was going into a hole in the ceiling of the carport and exiting into another carport two apartments to the south. The officer requested Hawkins put out the fire and she did so by utilizing a garden hose.
Hawkins, who according to the landlord had turned in a set of keys two days prior and was supposed to have moved out of the apartment, said she intended to cook a steak on the grill although the actual grill top had to be removed to accommodate the fire wood.
A resident at the complex said he thought Hawkins had moved out as well and believed she used fire wood from his stack.
Due to the large size of the fire, location next to flammable debris and the smoke hazard, the officer advised he believed there was a significant danger of the apartments catching fire. He advised his finding to Hawkins and said he would pass them onto the Attorney’s Office for review.
