Wednesday, July 25, at approximately 10:15 p.m, Copper Canyon Fire and Medical District was dispatched to a reported building fire at 100 S. Montezuma Castle Highway. Smoke was seen coming out of Montezuma Veterinary Service at this address.
CCFMD was assisted initially by a response from Verde Valley Fire District and the Camp Verde Marshal’s Office.
Upon arrival, crews forced entry into a side door of the clinic and found a working fire in a portion of the building. This fire was rapidly suppressed, and three cats and a dog patients were removed alive from the structure, albeit with probable smoke inhalation.
Unfortunately, two additional cats were found deceased in the building, probably due to the heavy smoke. After the suppression and ventilation of the fire, the structure was overhauled and searched for hotspots with thermal imaging cameras, and no hotspots were noted.
The building was then secured, and due to the nature of the contents and valuables therein, CVMO agreed to post a Volunteer in Policing officer to monitor the building/fire overnight.
Representatives of the clinic took control of the evacuated animals, and the building owner was consulted regarding the commencement of the fire investigation planned for in the morning.
By 2:30 a.m., a hotspot became evident to the CVMO VIP deputy via rising smoke, and a CCFMD engine returned to the scene to apply additional water and to conduct additional overhaul to suppress the embers that had become evident by this point.
This situation repeated itself again by 6 a.m., when the VIP again reported smoke. Unfortunately, by the time crews arrived, the smoke had quickly evolved into active fire and extensive damage resulted as the fire ran through now exposed attic space, resulting in the loss of the roof structure and additional interior damage.
A full fire response was again initiated, supported again by a VVFD engine and a Rehab Unit from Verde Valley Ambulance Company. By 9 a.m., the fire had again been sufficiently suppressed and most of the units were released, while a CCFMD water truck remained on scene to continue to douse smoldering areas. By 10 a.m., members of the Verde Valley Fire Investigation Task Force had arrived on scene to begin to the investigation of the original fire and the cause of the rapid spread of the fire at 6 a.m. As of this writing, the investigation is ongoing.
Both Montezuma Veterinary Services and Melodee’s Grooming, which was also located in a portion of the building, have been displaced by this fire.
