Latest and Past News

HCFR's Announces Noah Rescue. November 8, 2010. During an emergency at your home, what happens to your pets or animals if you are away, injured and unable to care for them? Who will help you rescue your pets and animals, ensuring they are safely removed from fire or other dangers on your property during an emergency situation? The answer is our newly form group of animal rescue division known as Noah. Kathleen Stiver, Animal Specialist and Noah Director, stated, "We offer emergency rescue for a variety of animals, from puppies and kittens to horses. Our purpose is to ensure all animals are safely removed to allow our fire and EMS responders to focus on firefighting and emergency medical care of those in need." Noah has a variety of cages for pets, as well as the ability to summon trailers or similar equipment for your larger animals. HCFR's Noah volunteers respond to locations within our response area and beyond, depending upon the need and/or animals requiring rescue. And finally, volunteers affiliated with our Noah program oftentimes can locate or offer safe emergency shelter until the owner's animal/s can return home.

Emergency Pet Oxygen Masks. November 8, 2010. High Country Fire-Rescue announces we now have pet oxygen masks onboard our two rescue squads and the Noah rescue vehicle. In the event of home fire incidents, smoke inhalation is a possible health risk to our rural pets. The administration of oxygen can make all the difference between life and death for your beloved pet. And, because our emergency pet O2 rescue packs have three mask sizes, our responders can administer oxygen to dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, and even birds. Unlike the human O2 masks, these cone-shaped masks are specifically designed for animals to deliver the appropriate and effective amount of life-saving oxygen. Our department is one of approximately two fire departments in Arizona with these specialty masks developed by Wag'N Enterprises, a company that focuses on pet needs during emergencies situations. If you'd like to make a donation towards additional pet first aid supplies for our responders to have on hand during those times of need, please contact our department. We appreciate your support.

Photo credit: Wag'N Enterprises

**In Memoriam:

December 19, 2010:  This morning our department lost one of our own to cancer. Ark 3 will be greatly missed by all of our volunteers. His gentle hands, huge heart, and sense of humor are among his most memorable attributes. Please remember him, his wife and family, and all firefighters in your thoughts and prayers. "Ark 3 is now 10-7. Be at peace Ark 3."

** National Preparedness Campaign, 2010

** Department Photo Albums Updated (September, 2010).
New photo album added with random photos to date for 2010; check back often to view latest photo uploads to this album. Additionally, house fire album has new photos uploaded. (Use link in left column to view all photo albums.)

** June 21, 2010: Follow us on Twitter. High Country Fire-Rescue is now online with a Twitter account (see right column on index page). You can now get updated information on your mobile device during ongoing events in our immediate and general vicinity. Tweets will be published for such events of fire, inclement weather, delays on roadway in our response area due to vehicular accidents, and other emergency related events. These tweets will be issued only during those times as warranted. General information will continue to be updated here, on our department's website.

** Kaibab National Forest Urges Caution With Fire (May 21, 2010).
Sunny summer days, higher temperatures, and low humidity, all often accompanied by winds, are upon us. "Kaibab National Forest officials urge the public to use extreme caution with campfires and activities that could cause wildfires. The transition from winter to summer occurs rapidly as weather conditions in Northern Arizona can change the fuel moisture levels throughout the forest in a relatively short time frame." Read more of their statement here, as well as our fire safety tips and recommendations in the right column of this page.

** 2009-2010 Annual Report (April, 2010).
High Country Fire Rescue has completed and published its annual report: 2009-2010 Annual Report.

** New Department Apparatus Acquired (April, 2010).
High Country Fire Rescue has added new apparatus, which can be viewed on our "Apparatus" page (link under "Photos" section on left column).

** Breast Cancer Awareness (April, 2010).
High Country Fire Rescue Volunteers will be hearing pink medical gloves to support National Breast Cancer Awareness. The Volunteers are honoring Edna Thornburgh who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2009. Fire Chief Robert Small reports the Department has purchased pink medical gloves for the Fire Fighters to wear during medical aid calls. A portion of the glove purchase goes to the National Breast Cancer Awareness program for women.

EMS Captain Robert Trotter stated, “We want to honor the memory of Edna Thornburgh and her family who are supporters of High Country Fire Rescue. Edna was a very kind and caring wife and mother, and High Country Fire Rescue Volunteers will wear our pink gloves as a tribute to her. We also want to remember all breast cancer patients, survivors and family members in memory of their loved ones. High Country Fire Rescue encourages community members to participate in their own personal manner in support of the National Breast Cancer Awareness Program.”

For more information about breast cancer and to make a donation to support National Breast Cancer Awareness, please visit the following websites at:
National Breast Cancer Foundation
Susan G. Komen For The Cure

** Newsletter published. To read this latest edition, and the previous releases, go here.

** Do you know what to do when you encounter an unexpected bee hive or swarm of bees? Read our public education page concerning bees. [Read the news release published in the Williams Newspaper about our department's bee call response, or a copy of the article on our website here.]

** High Country Fire Rescue announced it is celebrating it's first year of service in the community by providing free CPR classes to the public. High Country Fire Rescue became a non-profit Arizona corporation in July of 2008 and began answering emergency calls as the primary 911 responder in August 2008. [Read the full news release published in the Williams Newspaper, or a copy of the article on our website here.]

** Life-Line Ambulance of Arizona.  Learn more about this company, our affiliation with them, and our department's recommendation to become a "LifeCare Membership Plan" subscriber.