Construction fire leads to multiple home fires
UPDATE ( February 6th, 2018)
According to Yuma Police Department, the Arizona Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention and the Arizona Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators are now offering a reward up to $10,000 for information regarding the Mesa Heights Apartments fire.
For more information, please contact Detective Eric Fell at 928-783-4421. You can also call 78-Crime to submit information anonymously and could be eligible for up to $1,000.
ORIGINAL STORY
UPDATE (January 30th, 4:36 p.m.)
According to the Yuma Police Department, an investigation regarding the suspicious fire at Mesa Heights Apartments has revealed the fire was intentionally started.
There were no reported injuries and the incident is currently under investigation.
ORIGINAL POST
On Monday after 3:30 a.m., a fire was reported on the construction site of the Mesa Heights Apartments in the 2100 block of Arizona Avenue. Arriving Yuma Fire Department personnel found an apartment building on the south end of the complex completely involved in flames. Firefighters began the work of bringing the fire under control but soon found the intense heat and flying embers were spreading the flames to other structures in the neighborhood. Due to the size of the fire additional mutual aid was requested.
With the assistance of fire personnel and equipment from Rural Metro, San Luis, Imperial County, MCAS (both structural and Crash Fire Rescue), and the Yuma Proving Ground, the construction site fire and those fires spreading from the site were controlled and extinguished. The section of the Mesa Heights apartment where the fire was first reported was completely destroyed, with varying amounts of damage done to multiple homes, structures, and trees in the surrounding area (15+ locations). Power was also out along Arizona Avenue affecting the residential neighborhood and nearby schools.
Traffic in the area was closed down by the Yuma Police Department, with much of Arizona Avenue between 20 th Street and 24 th Street remaining closed as emergency crews remained on scene dealing with spot fires and flair-ups. Several individuals were not able to reoccupy homes affected by the fires, with at least two families receiving assistance from the American Red Cross and a temporary shelter established at Gila Vista Jr. High. Two YFD firefighters were treated for injuries, with one transported to YRMC as a precaution.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Anyone having information about this fire is asked to contact Fire Investigator Mark Gordon at 928-373-4850 .
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