index.html - Information about the Summit Fire Department - Flagstaff, Arizona - In Doney Park and Timberline-Fernwood

Main Page

Welcome to Summit Fire Department On-Line

Thoughts from Chief Howard

Dear Neighbors,

You’ve heard me address this before, but as I sit writing these thoughts on November

14th, while its 63 degrees outside (continuing the trend of about 10-12 degrees above

normal) it is really hard to complain about the weather. That being said, I’m afraid I have to

share with you once again our concerns at Summit Fire about the potential of significant

wildfire impacting our area. I don’t want to sound like the ―boy who cried wolf‖ but we’re

continuing to see a drying trend that puts our area in jeopardy more than anytime since the

early 1990’s. We say that we’re in our 13th year of an extended drought. Only twice in those

13 years have we been above normal in precipitation. Even today, if we had any significant

wind, a fire could quickly expand and greatly challenge our efforts to control it. Two years

ago we had an 84 acre fire above the Timberline area that we and the US Forest Service

responded to quickly and were able to limit its growth. There was a slight breeze that day,

unlike the prior day of heavy winds, and we put a good stop on it. Last summer we had the

Manning Fire off Townsend-Winona Road that threatened houses and made it necessary to

evacuate a number of homes: in a matter of 5-7 minutes, we had structures being threatened.

We brought in aircraft, both helicopters and air tankers to contain that fire at 18 acres.

We’ve had numerous smaller fires in our area over the past years that you are probably

unaware of. Our goal is to keep small fires from getting large and we’re successful with that

most of the time for the 45 wildland fires we respond to in our fire district each year. My

point in sharing this is that no matter where you live in our fire district, fire safety is a

responsibility that you share with all of us. We are asking that you make your homes as fire

safe as possible, both inside and out. Last week, smoke detectors alerted residents to a

significant fire in their home that allowed them and their pets to get out of the structure

safely. Insuring your smoke detectors are working properly is the cheapest insurance you

can have in keeping your family alerted to a fire in your home. While we’re one of the few

organizations that still make house calls, we really would prefer not to come to your home

that’s on fire while you’re still in it.

I had the opportunity to go to a fundraising event for the YMCA last month and it was a

great affair. The two coaches, who were the coaches in the movie “Remember the Titans”

were the guest speakers and they were outstanding. The story of the Titans is a wonderful

story about the values that make our country and community great. When I think of all of

the concerns we have in our world today, it makes me think of the saying, “all politics are

local.” We at Summit Fire have our ups and downs like everyone does, but what we use to

guide us are those traits that are represented in this story. The ability to speak honestly

without causing offense; the need to reach out to each other recognizing that we’re all

different; the understanding that by working together we can accomplish more than we ever

imagined; the concept that if we are truly going to find greatness, it will come in the form

of cooperation and collaboration. It is this set of ideals that we continually focus on to

make us the best we can be to serve you. In this sense we honestly try to honor the ideals of

the Titans.

We hope this Holiday Season is filled with joy for you and yours. All the best from the

Summit Fire Family.

Winter Cleaning

By Battalion Chief Tim Steffen

Don’t you mean spring cleaning? Fall is upon
us, you can feel it in the air. It is colder and that
darn wind is blowing again. Cleaning, especially
outside is the last thing you might want to do right
now. Fall, however, is an important time to ensure
our homes are safe for the approaching winter
season. Below is a list of important items to
consider this fall.

Have I cleaned and inspected my furnace
and/or wood or pellet stove?

Dirty or blocked flue pipes on wood and pellet
stoves can cause chimney fires or smoke to backup
into your home. Problems with furnaces can
cause inefficient combustion and possible carbon
monoxide build-up in your home. Dirty furnace
filters can also cause your furnace to be less
efficient and hence more expensive to operate and
also be less healthy. Summit Fire Department has
brushes available for loan for the most common
sizes of both wood and pellet stoves. Never use
flammable liquids to start a fire in your wood
stove!

Have I cleaned, tested, and changed the
batteries in my smoke detector and carbon
monoxide detector?

Smoke detectors need fresh batteries at least once a
year. They also get dirty (especially out here with
all the dust) and should be removed and cleaned
annually. Smoke detectors not maintained properly
may become less effective in as little as two years.

Proper Ash Disposal

Please remember, ashes should be placed in a
covered non-combustible (metal) can prior to
disposal. It can take up to a week for ashes to cool
properly for disposal. Make sure they are
completely cool to the touch. Every year we
respond to fires caused by inappropriate storage
and disposal of ashes. Don’t let this happen to
you! Ashes disposed of in yards often seem ―out‖
until one of our wind events occurs causing your
yard to catch fire.

Water Heaters

Water heaters, especially those in un-heated areas
of your home work overtime to overcome the
cooler temperatures of winter. Never store
combustible items near water heaters and
remember to check the floor area below your water
heater for structural integrity. Many fires have
been caused by leaky water heaters that have fallen
through the floor allowing combustible material
too close to an ignition source.

Fireplaces

Remember, most fireplaces are not designed to
heat your home. They are primarily for
ambiance. Do not attempt to heat your home by
having large fires in the fireplace. Keep them
small. Also check the flue and keep it clean just
like wood and pellet stove flues. Never use
flammable liquids to start a fire in your fireplace!

Matches and Lighters

Please remember to keep all fire starting tools in a
safe place out of the reach of children. Children are
naturally curious and go through phases as they
grow up.

Have a happy and safe winter season.

New Summit Family Members

Mike Apodaca, Fire Mechanic-
Born in Kearny, Arizona, Mike’s dad, grandfather
and great-grandfather were copper miners in the town
of Hayden/Winkelman in Arizona. His mother's family
were also copper miners.
Mike’s dad was a volunteer firefighter along with
his Uncle who was the chief. Mike remembers the
town siren going off and his dad would drop what he
was doing and run though the house yelling for the kids
to go outside and look for smoke and asking Mike’s
mother for the truck keys which he usually had in his
pocket. As Mike got older, he would go along with
him and that's how Mike got hooked.
In high school, times were difficult due to the layoff
at the copper mines so the union would send his dad
out of state for work. So at the age of 17 and with the
advice of his parents, Mike enlisted in the US Navy to
be an engineman/diesel mechanic. He spent four years
and was fortunate enough to go on two western Pacific
tours which included ports and operations from the
Bearing Sea to the Indian Ocean.
When Mike was discharged, he returned to
Arizona, joined the Naval Reserves and got a job with
a redi-mix cement company in Mesa. Two long years
later, he landed a job with Mesa Fire Department as a
fire equipment service worker. That's when Mike’s life
turned around and a door was opened up and he never
looked back. It also helped that the shop foreman and
the lead mechanic were also in Naval Reserves.
Through the years with Mesa Fire, Mike lived in
Superior. The Superior Fire Chief found out that there
was a fire mechanic living in town, (the only bad thing
about living in a small town,) and Mike joined Superior
Volunteer Fire Department. Another door opened up
and within 2 years, Mike got his EMT and Firefighter
I and II. Mike advanced from Firefighter, to Captain,
to Assistant Fire Chief.
Mike move back to Mesa and concentrated on his
career as a fire mechanic. After ten years of service
with Mesa Fire, he was promoted to Lead Fire
Mechanic and has been an instructor for the
Arizona State Fire Marshall's office. Mike was also
recently appointed Vice-president of the Arizona Fire
Service Mechanics Association.
Mike has a lovely wife, Valerie and 5 children:
Alex 22, Nick 20, Kayla 17, Kevin 13, and Elijah
12. He also has 2 dogs named Apollo and Buster, and
a cat named Batman. Mike enjoys camping, hunting,
fishing, riding quads, sports, and spending time with
family and friends.Mike and his family are very grateful for the
support from their new fire family and would like to
thank everyone for the warm welcome and support that
Summit Fire, family and friends have given to them.

Is the Wildfire Season Over?

As the end of summer draws near, many people feel that the end of the wildfire season is also near. However, this is not always the case, as evident over the past few years. An example of this was a fast moving New Year's Day 2006 wildfire near Silver Saddle Road that threatened structures. The fire was caused by improperly disposed of ashes.

Wildfires that occur outside of the normal fire season are becoming more common with the continuing drought conditions that we have been experiencing. One of the most common causes of fire, both structure and wildland during the fall and winter months is improperly disposed of ashes. To properly dispose of your ashes, you should:

     1. Put our ashes in a metal container with a lid.
     2. Let the ashes set for one week or more.
     3. Soak them really well before dumping them in the garden.

As temperatures begin to drop, so does the public concern about wildfires. After the summer monsoon rains, we typically see a drying trend that increased the fire danger. It is important that we remain cautious about the danger of wildfires throughout the year.

FIREPLACE SAFETY

There's nothing quite as cozy as a warm, crackling fire in the fireplace. But if you don't take some simple safety precautions, that fire could turn deadly. More than 6,000 people end up in emergency rooms for injuries associated with fireplaces and fireplace equipment... and most of the injuries occurred with children under five years old.

Approximately 14,000 house fires each year are started by fireplaces. Most of these fires escalated beyond the fireplace because of an overloaded fire, damage to the fireplace such as missing bricks, obstructed flues, ignition of nearby combustibles, and flying sparks.

Keep your family safe and warm by following these fireplace safety tips:

Inspect the fireplace. Make sure it has adequate protective linings and smoke ducts.
Check to see that the chimney is clear and in good repair.

If you are installing a factory-made fireplace, it should not be located near any
combustible materials. It should also have adequate flame and heat barriers.

Have chimneys inspected annually, and cleaned as necessary, by a CSIA (Chimney
Safety Institute of America) Certified Chimney Sweep. This reduces the risk of fires and
carbon monoxide poisonings due to creosote buildup or obstructions in the chimneys.
To locate a certified sweep, visit the CSIA Web site at www.csia.org or call
1-800-536-0118. A certified sweep can also perform maintenance on your wood stove or
help remove gas logs from a fireplace.

Keep the top of chimneys clear of tree limbs or debris.

Install a chimney cap to keep debris and animals out of the chimney.

Always open the damper before lighting the fire and keep it open until the ashes are
cool. This will avert the build-up of poisonous gases, such as carbon monoxide.

Fuel the fire safely. For burning firewood in wood stoves or fireplaces, choose
well-seasoned wood that has been dried for a minimum of six months to a year and stored properly.

Build it right. Place firewood or fire logs at the rear of the fireplace on a supporting grate.
To start the fire, use a firelighter.

Never use gasoline, charcoal lighter or other fuel to light or relight a fire because the
vapors can explode. Never keep flammable fuels near a fire. Vapors can travel the
length of a room and explode.

Do not use coal or charcoal in a fireplace because because of the danger of carbon
monoxide build-up. Do not burn trash or gift wrap in the fireplace because polystyrene
foam and other coated materials can generate deadly fumes. Flying paper embers could also ignite the roof.

Do not treat artificial logs like real logs. Artificial logs are usually made of sawdust and
wax and have special burning properties. Be sure to read the instructions on the logs
and follow them carefully. Use just one log at a time and do not add another log until the fire is completely out. Never add an artificial log to a natural wood fire that is already burning.
Wait at least two hours before adding an artificial log to a natural log fire because it
could cause a flare-up.

Do not poke artificial logs because the flaming wax could stick to the poker and drop
onto the floor or carpet. Poking a log could also cause a flare-up.

Home rolled newspaper logs should never be soaked in flammable fuels of any kind
because of the severe danger of explosion. Soaking the newspaper in water either
before rolling or during rolling removes the clay content and will provide a better burning
log. Then, stack the logs on end and let them dry for two weeks in the basement. When lighting the newspaper logs, use kindling just as you would for a regular fire.

Do not overload the fireplace. Large fires can lead to overheating of wall or roof materials, particularly if the fireplace is constructed of metal.

Always use a screen around the fireplace to keep sparks from flying out and to protect
children and adults from accidental clothing ignition.

Warn children about the danger of fire. Do not let them play with fire.

Keep flammable materials such as carpets, pillows, furniture or papers away from the
fireplace area.

At holiday time, make sure the Christmas tree is not close enough to be ignited by a
spark. Be especially careful of accidentally igniting holiday wrapping papers.

Always make sure that the fire is completely extinguished before going to bed for the
night or when leaving the house.

People with Special Needs
An area of concern in our community that you the citizens could help us with is identifying any people with special needs. First of all, if someone in your home has special medical needs and you would like to make the fire department aware of what those needs are, please give us a call or come by and visit us so we can be aware ahead of time of the needs that exist. This could prove beneficial in some situations. Another area of interest we have with special needs individuals are with those people living in an interface area. Over the years we’ve assisted with many fires around the country. One issue that’s been raised many times is how we evacuate people with special needs. The time to beware of these issues is before a fire arrives. If we identify beforehand those people that need extra care during emergencies, we would better be able to remove them from an area that’s at risk. Please let us know how we can help.

Summit Fire Department Fuels Reduction Program

If you have entered into a stewardship agreement and would like to know where you are on our list, please feel free to call us and find out how many properties are ahead of yours, here is the phone number at Station 33 # 526-1724 or contact us via E-mail and ask for Fuels Management. We may not be able to tell you an exact date. Due to the unpredictable circumstances our schedule is changing constantly. Summit fuels program has grown leaps and bounds this year. We have made a lot of positive progress in our district in lowering the risk of a property loss due to wildfire. Summit Fire Department supports our community by encouraging homeowners to take the initiative to form a Fire Wise community. SFD promotes FireWise in hopes to bring a greater awareness to the communities in our district. It takes your involvement to make it work. Get together with your neighbors and ask them to join you. Start by calling SFD. Together we can set a date for a community meeting. We can make better progress thru communities as opposed to individual homes, community projects take priority in our program. For those of you who are interested in having a FREE assessment, please fill out the form below and mail it in or bring it by one of the stations. It is your first step in being more conscious about the wildland urban interface and forest health in our community. Within the assessment we identify such things as; where a wildfire might come thru, fuel reduction, any hazards, the survivability of your home in a wildfire, or what can be done to improve your situation. For more information on FireWise Communities you can check out our web site listed above and use the link to the FireWise web site. With proper funding we hope to run a year round program. Thank you for your support and we appreciate your patience.

Click Here for a Property Assessment Form.

Summit Fire Chief Tops in State
He's modest, respected by his peers and a leader who was able to meld two growing fire departments into one. For those characteristics and accomplishments, Don Howard of the Summit Fire Department was named Arizona Fire Chief of the Year Friday. Howard is the first chief to receive this award, and says that he is honored, humbled and even a bit embarrassed by the honor. "There are so many people who do so many wonderful things in the fire service all over Arizona," Howard said. But those folks who know him say he is most deserving of it. "He has brought the department to absolutely new heights," said Paul Simpson, public information officer and lieutenant for Summit Fire Department. Simpson said that Howard was able to bring a sense of self respect, self esteem and personal growth to a department that was having a rough time when Howard became chief of Doney Park Fire Department. Howard was born and raised in Phoenix and moved to Flagstaff in 1978. He and his wife, Anita, married 25 years ago Tuesday. Howard has been in the fire service since 1978, when he heard about a group of people trying to put together a volunteer department. So, through many meetings that included milk and cookies, the Timberline-Fernwood Fire Department was formed. "We had no building, no equipment, it was like something out of an old movie," Howard said. The department began by reporting on wilderness fires with rakes and shovels. "We'd just jump in our pickups and see what we could do," Howard said. Though this did not last for long. In 1979 the department received equipment from the Land Department, and in 1980 it built its first building. Howard became chief of the Timberline-Fernwood in 1980, took on dual duties as chief of Timberline-Fernwood and Doney Park fire departments in 1998. With the help of many other firefighters in the area, the departments merged to become the Summit Fire Department, and Howard was its chief. Simpson said that Howard is a great leader. "Don is a firefighter's captain," Simpson said. "He is one of the first to jump in get dirty and see what he can do to be involved and give back." According to Simpson, Howard is not only respected and recognized within his department, but also in the greater Flagstaff area. Howard said that one of the things he really loves about being a captain is the training. As a retired school teacher, Howard brings in his love for learning and teaching to firefighters new and old. "We have some of the best wildland firefighters in the world here," Howard said. Howard helped start the Arizona Wildfire Academy in March, and he worked as the incident commander. Above all though, Howard makes sure that his firefighters are always laughing and happy, Simpson said. And he is valued abundantly for his constant open door policy. "Don likes things simple and happy. He is just a super, super guy," Simpson said. "He taught me personally how to be a professional firefighter." Simpson said that Howard's three main goals were to get new equipment for the department, create great training and raise the pay. In his time with the Summit Fire Department, Howard has been able to do all three. Howard remembers why he is truly here, all the while making people laugh, achieving goals, opening new frontiers for northern Arizona firefighters, teaching and creating respect everywhere he goes, "We are in a bad day business, but there are so many people who do this and love it," Howard said. "Remember some of the most famous historical figures have been those who give back, and that is what we get to do everyday. Reprinted with permission from the Arizona Daily Sun.

Street Signs
We have received some funding from Deb Hill, District 4 Supervisor to provide for additional street signs. We will purchase the signs with this grant money and fire department personnel will put up the signs. If you have a need for a street sign, please call our administrative offices at 928-526-9537 and let us know.

A "Heads Up" on Wood Stove Heating
Your wood burning stove is a source of warmth and relaxation. Yet, like any home appliance, it should be safe, properly maintained and good for the environment, inside and out. Click here for some wood stove safety tips and information.

Location, Location, Location
How is your location? Would your home be easy to find at 3:00 in the morning? We need your help in properly identifying and addressing your home. When time is of the essence a properly addressed home is a time saver. If your home does not have reflective address numbers either on your house, on your mailbox or at the end of your driveway, please stop by Summit Fire Station 32 and pick up your address numbers. They are free and are a great help for the mailman too!

Become a Summit Fire Department Volunteer
Interested in serving your community? The Summit Fire Department is looking for dedicated people to become volunteer firefighters. Learn more by clicking here.

Standard Addressing Project
Over the past year, the Coconino County Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Department has been building a foundation to create a standard addressing system for the unincorporated areas of the County. The primary reason for uniform and standardized addressing is to assist emergency services in accurately locating citizens, without having prior knowledge of an area, in a timely manner. More...

Peaks View County Park Information
Peaks View County Park opened in May 2001, and is located north of Flagstaff in the Doney Park area. The highlight of the park is a state-of-the-art artificial turf sports field. The park features two age specific playgrounds, a walking path, and equestrian path. Plans call for picnic facilities, restrooms, skate park, and an equestrian arena. More...


Plan your trip Local Radar Detailed Forecast