What does it take to protect a historic city from fire — especially when that city sits in the middle of Arizona wildfire country?
I spent the day with members of Prescott Fire Department for a different kind of behind-the-scenes look at the fire service. Instead of spending the entire day at a firehouse, we headed into the community to see Prescott through the eyes of the people responsible for protecting it.
We walk through the city's historic downtown, look at the challenges of protecting older buildings from fire, and learn about the prevention work happening long before anyone calls 911.
Along the way, we also get a glimpse of the everyday emergency response side of Prescott Fire, including a motorcycle crash and a medical emergency.
But structural fires aren't the only threat here. Prescott is surrounded by wildland, and wildfire has profoundly shaped both the fire department and the community. We discuss that risk, how firefighters prepare for it, and the lessons that continue to influence fire protection in this part of Arizona.
This is a different style of WorkingFirePIO story — less of a traditional ride-along and more of an opportunity to explore a community through the firefighters who know and protect it.
A special thank you to Prescott Fire Department and everyone who took the time to share their community and their work with me.
What does it take to protect a historic city from fire — especially when that city sits in the middle of Arizona wildfire country?
I spent the day with members of Prescott Fire Department for a different kind of behind-the-scenes look at the fire service. Instead of spending the entire day at a firehouse, we headed into the community to see Prescott through the eyes of the people responsible for protecting it.
We walk through the city's historic downtown, look at the challenges of protecting older buildings from fire, and learn about the prevention work happening long before anyone calls 911.
Along the way, we also get a glimpse of the everyday emergency response side of Prescott Fire, including a motorcycle crash and a medical emergency.
But structural fires aren't the only threat here. Prescott is surrounded by wildland, and wildfire has profoundly shaped both the fire department and the community. We discuss that risk, how firefighters prepare for it, and the lessons that continue to influence fire protection in this part of Arizona.
This is a different style of WorkingFirePIO story — less of a traditional ride-along and more of an opportunity to explore a community through the firefighters who know and protect it.
A special thank you to Prescott Fire Department and everyone who took the time to share their community and their work with me.