Right place, right time and some quick thinking on the part of the Patagonia Creative Arts Association staff helped avert a potentially dangerous situation on Monday in downtown Patagonia.
Brenda Pentland said she was at the Gathering Grounds on McKeown Avenue when a smoldering cigarette that had been thrown into a plastic planter burned through the planter and ignited a fire in the grass on the adjacent lot, near the Lending Shed’s donation kiosk.
Pentland said Adrian Gomez and Cassina Farley saw the smoke from where they were sitting at a picnic table in Patagonia’s Town Park and ran across the street. Farley rushed into the Gathering Grounds to tell them to call 9-1-1, and Gomez, a counselor for the Association’s summer art camp, grabbed a nearby hose and doused the flames, which were being fanned by gusty winds and starting to spread across the lot.
Pentland said Gathering Grounds employees came out with fire extinguishers after being alerted to the fire, but Gomez’s effort had already snuffed it out.
“Given the wind and other conditions we were fortunate they acted so quickly,” Pentland said. “We were all lucky they acted so fast and that there was a tap and hose right there.”
She’s grateful that the quick response prevented a larger fire and hopes that the incident serves as a reminder for people to be more careful with their cigarette butts.
Patagonia Fire and Rescue chief Zay Hartigan amplified that message in a statement to the PRT:
“Due to extremely dry and windy conditions, multiple fires in our region have gone big recently. Saturday, three fire fighters were killed and two more injured up North. Monday a fire started in VERY short grass next to the Lending Shed due to a cigarette, illustrating how easily a fire can start. Saturday’s tragedy shows how fast they can spread, and just a hint of how deadly they can be.
“We ask all our neighbors to hold off on lighting fireworks until the rains come. And to be extra careful with any flames such as charcoal grills, cigarettes, anything. Fireworks are not allowed in town limits or on state or federal lands around our town.
“Anyone who does start a fire through negligence is liable to be charged with a crime and billed for suppression expenses. I can’t stress how vulnerable our town is to extreme destruction from one little spark. Let’s make sure this special Fourth of July is memorable for the good times we all share, and not for unimaginable destruction.”