Fire department not responsive

Dear Editor,

I live in Valle Vista and have experienced nothing but disrespect from the local (Kingman) Fire Department.

I have met on several occasions in person and by telephone with the assistant fire chief. The fire chief has never returned my calls.

Over the past few months I have reported several apparent fire hazards locally and have received no response. I have been told by fire personnel, “to get volunteers to correct the issue if you thinks it’s an issue,” and “you have a local church. Get them to do it.” When asked if the fire department would drive around and look I was told “fuel costs over $3 a gallon and our equipment only gets three miles to the gallon.”

Might I suggest a van or SUV or pickup? These attitudes are preposterous. Volunteers and the public are not firemen. Is this what we pay Northern Arizona Consolidate 27.82% of our tax bill with another 0.89% to a Fire District Assist Fund? For inaction, lip service and disrespect?

A friend recently stopped by our local station with a cut hand and asked for assistance from the firemen/paramedics on duty. He was told to wait while they called 911 dispatch. No treatment was given. Do not tell me about liability. Paramedics were on duty. Is the dispatcher a doctor, nurse, or paramedic? Again, this is preposterous.

Fireworks were allowed o the Fourth of July with the local station staff unable to respond, could not respond, or refused to respond. And this was allowed while fire condition advisories were in effect locally?

Why are our crews dispatched from Valle Vista to Kingman and other locales leaving Valle Vista unprotected? Do not tell me we are otherwise covered. Coverage here to most if not all residences is around five minutes. Is “other coverage” from Kingman? In about 15 minutes a residence will be destroyed with everything and everyone in it. Is this what we can expect from nearly one-third of our property taxes going to the fire department?

Kim Gaines

Valle Vista