Pine-Strawberry Fire District
P.O. Box 441  Pine, Arizona 85544
Phone: (928) 476-4272  Fax: (928) 476-4634
Website: www.pine-strawberryfire.com
Fire Chiefs Report – March 2017
Significant Incidents
LPG Tanker Roll Over - Payson
On March 3rd a large tanker truck carrying several thousand gallons of Liquid
Petroleum Gas (LPG) overturned while making a south bound turn at the
intersection of Highway 260 and Highway 87. Fortunately, the tanker, and
plumbing, remained intact and there was no leak. However, the righting of the
truck back onto its wheels was a risky operation. Pine Strawberry’s Engine 411
responded to assist the Payson Fire Department and was assigned to assist in
some evacuations followed by setting up a large volume water deluge gun to
protect the tank should a fire erupt. Engine 411 remained on scene approximately
5 hours until the truck was removed.
It’s rare for a tanker truck carrying LPG to experience a leak which causes and
ignition of gas vapor in an accident. Had there been a rupture or a leak in the
plumbing a white fog like gas vapor cloud would have rolled across the ground
because the gas is heavier than air. Once the cloud reached an ignition source a
large fire ball would have occurred and anyone in the cloud would have been
killed. Had the leak occurred only in the plumbing the raging fire would next
would overheat and weaken the steel skin of the tank which would cause an
explosion called a BLEVE – Bowling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion. The fire ball
would expand several hundred yards outwards on the ground with a rising fall ball
going a thousand feet into the air. Nearby buildings would have ignited.
On July 3, 1973, a 33,000 gallon railroad car caring LPG suffered a leak in a valve
at the top of the tank and ignited in Kingman, Arizona. The flames shot
horizontally across the top of the tank heating and weakening the steel skin.
When the tank exploded the BLEVE flames rolled out more than 200 yards to the
highway 66 and beyond and produced radiant heat that burned spectators
further away. Eleven firefighters and a civilian were killed and 107 spectators
were burned. The explosion created a 10 foot deep crater and debris was
scattered over 2,000 feet away from the blast site.
Quad Accident
On March 8, crews from both the Pine and Strawberry stations responded to a
report of a quad rollover about a mile uphill on Hardscrabble Mesa Road. Arriving
crews found a quad off the road about 40 feet down a steep embankment.
Fortunately, trees and brush stopped the side-by-side from rolling further down
the steep hill. The quad stopped in an upright position after one roll. A young
women received minor injuries and was transported to Banner Payson Regional
Hospital
Fossil Creek Public Comment Letters
The Coconino National Forest published their latest draft of a master plan for
Fossil Creek with five different options for public comment. Over the last two
years, rescue agencies have rescued 490 injured or ill hikers in Fossil Creek and
four fatalities have occurred. Concerned that the Forest Service was not taking
this public safety crisis seriously, the fire chief coordinated the submission of
more than a dozen letters for public comment from the two sheriffs, board of
supervisors, fire districts, elected officials, the Town of Payson, and the Rim
Country Chamber of Commerce. The letters supported the “Fossil Creek White
Paper” developed by the Pine Strawberry fire chief and the papers five
recommendations. The major concern of the white paper is the Forest Service has
removed easy and direct access the victims. What was once and easy drive to
near a victim’s location by a few rescue personnel to complete a one and a half
hour rescue is now taking 5-7 hours and up to two dozen rescuers to complete.
The recommendations want easy access to be opened up.
Letters to Senator McCain and Congressman Gosar
The package of letters that were submitted to the Forest Service has also been
delivered to Senator John McCain’s officer as well as to Congressman Gosar’s
office with a request that the Arizona Congressional delegation work together to
resolve this public safety crisis.
Fossil Creek Meeting With Coconino National Forest
Apparently, the large number of letters submitted to the Coconino Forest
regarding the Fossil Creek public safety crisis is having an effect. For the first time
since the closing of the Irving hydro electric plant 2006 and the return of water to
the creek bed, the Coconino National Forest District Ranger held a meeting on just
the public safety issues with the two county sheriffs, the fire district fire chiefs
from Pine Strawberry and Camp Verde, along with Board of Supervisors
representatives. The meeting was held on February 27th and the attendees
pushed the Forest Service hard to resolve the crisis.
Fossil Creek Walk 27 March
One of the positive outcomes of the meeting with Coconino Forest officials on
February 27th was a commitment by the District Ranger to re-consider a solution
offered last year. In that offer, Gila County Board of Supervisors, Gila County
Sheriff, Tonto Rim Search and Rescue Squad, the Gila County Sheriffs Mounted
Posse, and the Pine Strawberry Fire District offered to split the cost of improving
the Upper Springs Trail wide enough to allow a side-by-side quad to travel down
the trail to rescue ill or injured hikers. The group had heavy equipment and an
operator lined up to do the work. After Forest Service personnel walked the trail
with the group last fall, and initially approving the project, the Coconino district
ranger cancelled the work five days before the October 5th start date. As a result
of the meeting, the Coconino Forest has scheduled another trail walk to consider
options for March 27th. However, the earliest funding for the project will be 2018
or later.
Meeting in Washington D.C. With Senior Officials Regarding the Fossil Creek
Public Safety Crisis
The fire chief will be in Washington D.C. on April 5 and 6 and both Senator
McCain’s and Congressman Gosar’s offices are scheduling a meeting for the fire
chief to meet with senior officials of the Forest Service and the Department of
Interior. This will allow direct communication of the public safety crisis in Fossil
creek with senior decision makers who oversee Fossil Creek and who can
authorize the needed fixes and budget funding necessary to fix the problem.
Dan McKinney Funeral
Former Pine Strawberry Fire District Dan McKinney recently passed away. On duty
firefighters and the fire chief attended his funeral.