Devastation

Firefighters remain at scene of trailer home blaze

Rural/Metro firefighters continue to monitor for hot spots amid the rubble of Thursday afternoon’s fire at 9th Street and 20th Avenue, which destroyed several structures and vehicles.

Spokesperson Charly McMurdie said firefighters remained on scene throughout the night and into Friday to douse water on the debris if necessary. The goal is to prevent it from reigniting and starting a new fire.

“We wanted to make sure the fire was completely out,” McMurdie said.

While the cause of the

fire is still unknown and under investigation, McMurdie the extent of the damage it caused isn’t. The fire destroyed a duplex, six trailer homes, two homes, a recreational vehicle and between five and 10 vehicles.

A cat and several dogs were rescued during the fire. At least two dogs have been confirmed killed by the fire.

Due to the number of people displaced by the fire, the Red Cross opened a shelter Thursday night at the Community Christian Church on Highway 95 near Avenue 3E.

McMurdie said the fire broke out at approximately 2:45 p.m. and was reported by a fire engine from the City of Yuma Fire Department, which happened to be in the area at the time.

The engine then drove to the scene and YFD firefighters began initial efforts to put it out. Rural/ Metro firefighters arrived a few moments later and took over the scene.

Due to there being no water hydrants in the area, water had to be continually brought to the scene in tender trucks. The fire was reported contained at approximately 6 p.m.

Deputies from the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office conducted traffic control in the area, with 20th Avenue closed between 8th and 9th Street.

ABOVE: Security doors that were once attached to front doors remain standing Friday morning amid the rubble that was once a cluster of residences on the northwest corner of West 9th Street and 20th Avenue following a devastating fire Thursday afternoon. Unofficially, six mobile homes and two fixed structures were destroyed in the fire that was fought by multiple local agencies, hampered by the lack of fire hydrants in the neighborhood.

Buy these photos at YumaSun.com PHOTOS BY RANDY HOEFT/YUMA SUN NOTHING WAS SPARED DURING THURSDAY’S FIRE, including a cluster of large palm trees.

THERE IS NOT MUCH LEFT TO SEE WHILE PEERING through a window of a home that was destroyed in Thursday’s fire.