Family rescues blind, elderly woman from blaze in Rimrock
A blind elderly woman was airlifted by a Guardian Air helicopter to a Flagstaff hospital Tuesday night after sustaining multiple injuries while escaping a fire that engulfed a Rimrock home, an RV, a double-wide trailer and two vehicles simultaneously in the Orlandi Trail area on June 9.
The first crew on scene found a large RV almost fully involved and began working to contain it.
“It extended to the brush, and as they continued to make access and begin fighting the fire, there were also two cars, and the home that was behind the RV was involved as well,” Copper Canyon Fire & Medical District Chief Danny Johnson said. “So they really had a brush fire, an RV fire, two car fires and a structure fire going at the same time.”
While responding, firefighters received reports that a family member was working to get the woman out. Shortly before crews arrived, word came that she had been successfully evacuated.
“She had multiple injuries from trying to get out of the house,” Johnson said. “The family was able to get her out, and she sustained some injuries during that process. There’s a lot that is still being pieced together after the fact. The paramedic and EMT were assigned to her and began treating her injuries throughout a lot of her body, including some smoke inhalation.”
Johnson said that he does not have an update on her condition. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading throughout the entire home. The Verde Valley Fire District, Sedona Fire District and Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office responded shortly before 9 p.m. The numerous fires were out by 11 p.m.
“This time of year things are pretty dry,” Johnson said. “While how the fire started and where it started is still being investigated with investigators and YCSO.”
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions
“Be aware of the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions and the dangers in and around the house related to outside activities — welding, cigarette butts and similar things — all of which have historically started fires, especially this time of year,” Johnson said.
Multiple agencies across the Verde Valley entered into Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on the morning of May 21, citing the dry conditions and increased risk of wildfires.
Visit YavapaiReady.gov/FireBan for more information about Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. Questions about Stage 1 Fire Restrictions can be directed to the U.S. Forest Service Fire Restrictions Hotline at 928-226-4607.
