Fires challenge Pahrump area crews

Area firefighters were met with a series of challenging fires throughout last week.

Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Lewis said fire crews were dispatched to the 4100 block of East Springwood Street on Monday, June 19, for a brush fire just after 6 p.m.

“Upon arrival, we found a brush fire that was running along three separate properties and to the rear of those individual properties, including some extensions onto the Lewis Equipment Crane and Hoist Construction site,” he said. “It involved brush, board fencing as well as some vinyl fencing. There were no other immediate structure exposures and the fire was quickly controlled. The ignition source is under investigation.”

Large bird causes fire

The following day fire crews were summoned to the 400 block of West Nopah Vista Avenue for a reported fast-moving grounds cover fire just before 8 a.m.

“Upon arrival, we found the fire at the rear of the property, where it threatened stored personal property,” Lewis said. “The primary dwelling was also an immediate exposure. Crews commenced a defensive exterior attack and quickly knocked down the fire and protected all the immediate exposures. We held the fire to limited damage to the personal property. The ignition source was found to be a large crow that got caught up in the power lines.”

Motorhomes destroyed by fire

Lewis noted the Nopah Vista fire was followed by a 10:27 a.m. structure fire on the 4500 block of West Calvada Boulevard.

Upon arrival, crews found two motorhomes that were well-involved.

“They were used as fixed structures at the rear of the property,” Lewis noted. “The primary dwelling on the property was also an immediate exposure and there was heavy fire and smoke showing upon arrival. Crews ensured that all occupants were accounted for and safely evacuated the structures.

“That fire was controlled within a short period of time with no extensions to the primary dwelling. There were no injuries. There were also several dogs that were removed safely from the primary dwelling as well as a small pet turtle, which was rescued from the area of the original fire structure. The cause of that fire is undetermined.”

Windswept fire creates challenges

Just over an hour later, Lewis said crews were dispatched for a large rubbish fire in the area of Highway 160 at mile marker 22.

“That ended up being a junkyard fire involving several vehicles that were in various states of being dismantled for parts,” Lewis said. “That fire was windswept, with numerous exposure structures on the same property, along with heavy fire showing. Fire crews commenced an exterior defensive attack from access ways to the property. That fire was quickly controlled with no further extensions and there were no injuries.”

Car crash, brush fire, Mercy Air response

At 6 p.m., fire crews responded to a two-vehicle, T-bone type collision with injuries at Highway 160 and Basin Avenue, where one person was transported to Desert View Hospital.

On Wednesday, June 21, fire crews began the day just before 2 a.m. for a brush fire in the area of Lola Lane and Patricia Street.

“Upon arrival, we found a mesquite grove on fire with improperly discarded tires in the area,” he said. “That fire was quickly controlled and there was no extension to the nearby additional mesquite groves and there were no injuries reported. That fire is also under investigation.”

The following evening, fire crews were summoned to the south end of town for a two-car collision at Homestead and Kellogg roads.

“Upon arrival, we found a significant impact, T-boned type collision,” Lewis said. “While there was no entrapment, there were injuries. We established a landing zone and one person was flown from the scene by Mercy Air 21, to UMC Trauma in Las Vegas.”

Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @pvtimes