Cottonwood AZ (February 7, 2018) – On Tuesday, February 6, at approximately 5:05 PM, the Verde Valley Fire District (VVFD) and Cottonwood Fire and Medical Department (CFMD) responded to a Working Wildland Fire at the 1300 block of Meadow Lane in Bridgeport.
A VVFD Engine and Brush Truck was originally dispatched to a “bonfire” that seemed to be getting out of control. While enroute to the call it was upgraded to a “Working Wildland” assignment and Cottonwood Fire and Medical Department was added to the assignment. Once on scene the initial engine reported a brush fire approximately the size of a tennis court with several structures threatened. They pulled a hose line and began suppression activities on a shed that had just become involved by the leading edge of the brush fire. After getting an initial knock down on the shed they, along with the recently arrived VVFD Brush Truck, began extinguishing the leading edge of the fire and were able to quickly contain it to the area already burned.
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CFMD’s Engine arrived and provided water as well as manpower to help fight the brush fire. Due to a lack of hydrants in the area a Water Tender was initially dispatched from Cornville as well. A second Brush Truck from CFMA arrived to also provide manpower and suppression capabilities.
No one was injured in the incident and the only structural damage was to an out building, a small shed, and a few fence posts. It appears that coals from a legal burn earlier in the day were rekindled due to rising winds and caught some dead dry grass on fire. This then spread to several large dead bushes and bamboo which caused the flames to grow rapidly. VVFD would like to remind everyone that if they have a legal burn, warming fire, or cooking fire, be sure that the flames are dead out when you are no longer attending the fire.