Statement from Patagonia Volunteer Fire & Rescue:
At 12:13 a.m., May 1 a 911 call led to Patagonia Volunteer Fire & Rescue and Sonoita-Elgin Fire Department being paged out for a structure fire in Patagonia.
By 12:18 SEFD Chief Marc Meredith and Patagonia Engine 3 were on scene at a fully involved single story home, and called for mutual aid.
PVFR 450 was assigned for rehab. PVFR tender 412 arrived shortly after, and a total of 10 PVFR members joined the effort.
PVFR Chief Zay Hartigan and Nogales FD Chief Ken Larriva joined Chief Meredith in directing the above Patagonia units as well as a structure engine each from Sonoita, NFD, and Rio Rico MFD (who also sent an ambulance) in combating the blaze which was prevented from spreading to neighboring properties.
Fortunately the resident awoke in time to escape with her pets other than one goat rescued by Chief Meredith.
Unfortunately the structure is a total loss.
All but Engine 3 were released at 3:00 am, and Chief Hartigan declared the fire out at 8:00 am.
We thank and deeply appreciate the quick and capable response from our neighboring departments, and take this opportunity to remind all our neighbors to check their smoke detectors.
This was PVFR’s 5th structure response (including a mutual aid request from SEFD) in 15 months, a very unusual cluster for our area. We will be expanding awareness and educational programs to help our community prevent and prepare for such incidents.
Stay safe !
The PRT’s website and Facebook page will be updated as we have more information.