Map shows damage from Mesa Heights arson fire

For most of the past week or so, information about what exactly was damaged by an intentionally set fire at the site of an under-construction apartment complex has been sparse, but now a map showing all of the affected property has been helping people see the scope of the destruction the fire caused.

“We are posting this map to show that this arson did not just burn down the apartment building that was set on fire,” said Sgt. Lori Franklin of the Yuma Police Department. “It caused much more damage

and put people’s lives in danger.”

The fire broke out just before 3:30 a.m. January 29 at the sight of the Mesa Heights apartment complex, located in the 2100 block of Arizona Avenue, and resulted in nearby residents being evacuated. It also caused a major power outage that left 598 APS customers without electricity.

Two Yuma firefighters were treated for injuries as well, with one being transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center as a precaution.

When firefighters arrived about five minutes after the call, they found a building on the south end of the apartment complex completely engulfed in flames.

Firefighters immediately began working to bring the fire under control, but soon found that the intense heat and flying embers were causing the flames to spread to other structures in the neighborhood.

Due to the size of the fire, additional mutual aid was requested, with the Rural Metro, San Luis, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Yuma Proving Ground and Imperial County fire departments all responding to the scene.

The winds that night blew flying embers south as far as 26th Street, where another fire broke out at a vacant home. There were also at least six other fires south of 23rd Street on Walnut Avenue.

In all, six buildings were totally destroyed, including an apartment building and five homes. Six other vehicles or structures sustained significant damage, and there were 15 other small yard and debris fires, one of which burned a carport screen.

“It was windy that night, and it was a huge fire,” Franklin said. “The damages could have been so much worse, if not for the people in these neighborhoods grabbing garden hoses and extinguishing falling embers. Many homes were saved from destruction.”

APS sustained a heavy loss to power poles and equipment. Several people were not able to reoccupy homes affected by the fires, with at least two families receiving assistance from the Red Cross. A temporary shelter was also established at Gila Vista Junior High.

Franklin said the Yuma Police Department released the map so people could see just how much damage the fire caused.

Anyone with any information regarding this arson is asked to call the Yuma Police Department at 928-783-4421 or 78CRIME (928-782-7463) to remain anonymous.