Brush fire endangers residence

A home was saved from a brush fire that burned fence posts just feet away from the residence on Patricia Street near Avenue B and County 13th Street.

Investigators determined the blaze was started by an unpermitted burn around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at a residence on County 14th Street, according to Rural/Metro Fire Department spokesman Mike Shelton.

Shelton said David Duvall was using fire to clear part of his land when he lost control of the blaze.

Yuma County Sheriff's Office Capt. Eben Bratcher told The Sun the case is under investigation, and officers would be conducting victim and suspect interviews to determine if charges are warranted.

He said if charges are be issued, they would likely be for reckless burning, a Class 1 misdemeanor, which involves fire damaging a structure, property or wildland.

Shelton said the Rural/Metro fire marshal is determining whether to cite Duvall for burning without a permit.

He said two other homes were threatened by the fire, but firefighters hosed them down to deter any burning.

Three Rural/Metro fire trucks responded, along with a wildland fire crew and the Arizona Public Service Co.