NOBODY WAS HOME WHEN A FIRE BROKE OUT AT A HOME IN THE 300 BLOCK OF HIDDEN VALLEY DRIVE IN PRESCOTT ON WEDNESDAY EVENING.

THE INITIAL ARRIVING UNIT ON SCENE SAW SIGNIFICANT SMOKE COMING FROM THE AREA AND, AFTER SOME CONFUSION ON THE ADDRESS ON BEHALF OF THE INITIAL CALLER, ENGINE 71 ARRIVED ON A 1500 SQUARE-FOOT WOOD FRAMED HOUSE WITH HEAVY SMOKE AND FLAMES VENTING FROM THE ROOF.

THE INITIAL FIRE ATTACK WAS MADE A BIT MORE DIFFICULT AS THERE WAS AN EXTENDED DRIVEWAY THAT WAS INACCESSIBLE TO FIRE VEHICLES. A FIRE DEPARTMENT HANDLINE WAS EXTENDED TO THE FRONT DOOR TO MAKE OFFENSIVE FIRE ATTACK.

IT APPEARS THAT THE FIRE MAY HAVE STARTED IN THE KITCHEN BUT IT’S CAUSE IS UNKNOWN UNTIL FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL INVESTIGATE FURTHER. NO FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL WERE HURT IN THE SUPPRESSION ACTIVITIES.

WHILE THERE WERE NO OCCUPANTS INSIDE THE STRUCTURE WHEN THE FIRE STARTED, THIS IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE. FUNCTIONAL SMOKE DETECTORS, TESTED MONTHLY, AND WITH BATTERIES CHANGED YEARLY, ARE CRITICAL IN A CHAIN OF SURVIVAL SHOULD AN UNFORTUNATE FIRE OCCUR IN YOUR HOME. 

SMOKE DETECTORS SAVE LIVES… THEY COULD ACTUALLY SAVE YOUR LIFE.