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Last Wednesday, phones started ringing and the town fire emergency alarm sounded. A fire was reported near the corrals in Kearny. What responders and residents didn’t know was that this fire would grow quickly to be the first major fire of the 2015 fire season.
The Kearny River Fire at press time has burned 1,428 acres and is 80% contained. The fire damaged five structures and one vehicle; of the five structures, two were primary residences, one was an abandoned home and two were out buildings used for storage.
The fire skirted town along the Gila River and forced evacuations throughout the community. A Red Cross shelter was originally opened in Superior due to the proximity of the fire to the Ray School District where the shelter was originally going to be housed. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. There is expected to be an announcement later this week providing more information about the cause and ongoing investigation. The fire is believed to have started near the corrals and on the other side of the Gila River.
Residents came to the aid of the neighbors and helped to free animals at the corrals and surrounding areas. Thankfully there was a minimal loss in livestock and domestic animals; animals roamed free until their owners could gather them. Many neighbors tied goats to their trees to keep them safe from the fire.
The fire received statewide and national media coverage for the quick spread of the fire but also for the unique resources used to control the blaze such as the all women’s hot shot crew from the Perryville Prison and the Copper Basin Railway who watered down the tracks and desert surrounding the tracks to help stop the fire.
Other agencies that assisted the Kearny Fire Department included: Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service, Apache Junction Fire Department, Arizona Public Service, Arizona Department of Agriculture, Avra Valley Fire District, Canyon Fire District, Caminos Fire and Rescue, Eloy Fire District, Globe Fire Department, Golder Ranch Fire District, Hayden Fire Department, Jerome Fire Department, Oracle Fire Department, Picture Rocks Fire Department, Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, Queen Valley Fire District, Regional Fire and Rescue, Smithco, Superior Fire Department, Tri City Fire District and Winkelman Fire Department. The Arizona Department of Corrections also sent crews from Globe, Florence, Flagstaff and Winslow. The Arizona Rangers with Bill Lohr also assisted in traffic control and evacuation in the community.
David Ozell, who serves as the town’s Public Information Officer, explained to the Copper Basin News that after an all agency briefing one of the primary comments was the improvement of communications and response time in this incident compared to the Shipman fire two years ago.
“We have made many improvements,” he said.
Residents are being advised to remain vigilant with the fire and also keep an eye out for wild life coming into town from the burned areas. Many animals including rattlesnakes have been seen in yards.
Any new developments from the fire will be reported on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/copperarea.
Mila Besich is a resident of Superior with two children. She volunteers for many local organizations. She is an experienced fundraiser and event planner for Copper Corridor Economic Development Coalition. She covers some of the area town councils and schools.
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