Numerous brush fires challenge Pahrump area emergency crews

Beginning on Saturday, July 1, through Tuesday July 4, Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue Service crews responded to an inordinate number of service calls throughout the valley.

Fire Chief Scott Lewis said overall, the department had roughly 90 fire-related responses during that period.

Fireworks-related fires

“That’s not including EMS medical calls,” Lewis said. “There weres 31 working fires, 15 accidents, which could be motor vehicle accidents or anything along those lines. We also had one hazardous condition call and 36 service calls, which are usually smoke investigations or unauthorized control burns. We also had five good intent calls, where people think there’s a fire but there is not, and two citizen complaints. Of those 31 working fires, 25 were brush fires where a majority were caused by the use of fireworks.”

Additionally, Lewis said the summer of 2017 presented more service calls than in previous years.

“This year during the Fourth of July, the number of calls seemed to be higher than in the years past,” he said. “That’s not including us covering the fireworks shows. We had a town fireworks show as well as at Front Sight, and the Pahrump Nugget fireworks show. Once again, that’s in addition to the EMS calls, because those were strictly fire calls.”

Brush fires abound

The service calls continued on July 5, where crews were dispatched to the 3300 block of Our Road for yet another brush fire just after 1 p.m.

“Upon arrival we found a brush and mixed fuels fire on the property where crews quickly extinguished it with no further extensions,” Lewis said. “That was followed by another brush fire along the 4800 block of East Martin Street, which was then followed by another brush fire along the 1900 block of West Wilson Road, which was ignited by fireworks.”

Structure Fire

On July 7, crews were summoned to the 1700 block of East Basin Avenue for a structure fire just after 8 p.m.

“Upon arrival, crews found a double-wide manufactured home with heavy fire showing through the front door,” Lewis noted. “Crews investigated and found a fire that had originated from the HVAC system, which was running on the underside of the structure. At one point, fire presented through the floor and crews got a quick hold on it with no further extensions. There were no injuries reported.”

Roughly 90 minutes later, crews were dispatched to the area of Rio Rancho Drive at Pahrump Valley Boulevard for a vehicle fire.

Upon arrival, Lewis said crews found an engine compartment fire, which was quickly controlled with no extensions.

More brush fires

The following day fire crews were dispatched to the 5900 block of South Pahrump Valley Boulevard for a brush fire, which was also quickly contained with no extensions.

Shortly thereafter, crews responded and contained yet another brush fire along the 600 block of Barney in short order, followed by a rubbish fire along the 2400 block of East Gamebird.

No injuries were reported during the events.

On Sunday, July 9, crews were dispatched for a brush fire along North Leslie Street just before 2:30 p.m.

“Upon arrival, crews found the fire as reported where they quickly controlled the fire with no extensions,” Lewis noted.

Meeting the challenge

Notwithstanding the larger than normal amount of service calls and triple-digit temperatures over the past week, Lewis said department operations are moving steadily, while fire crews are meeting the challenges.

“Crews are holding up despite the inordinate amount of fire and EMS calls over the past week,” Lewis said. “We are a little tired but everything is going well.”

Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com