A couple recently relocated to Arizona from North Dakota faced an unexpected challenge when a fire broke out in a shed on their property located on Mingus Mountain, northeast of Prescott. Kevin and Sue Hoerner quickly discovered that their new home lacked fire protection coverage when local deputies from the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office responded to the blaze. Using fire extinguishers from their patrol cars and shovels to fight the flames and manage hotspots, the deputies worked diligently to contain the fire.
The incident unfolded this past Monday, and it served as a wake-up call for the Hoerners, who were unaware that their property was situated outside the jurisdiction of any city or formal fire district. “We’re aware of that now,” Kevin Hoerner remarked with a sense of humor about their newfound knowledge.
According to state forestry officials, the Hoerners’ predicament is not unique. There are approximately 13,000 properties in Yavapai County classified as “no man’s land,” places that fall outside established fire district boundaries. Tiffany Davila from the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management noted that this issue arises frequently in many rural areas.
The couple expressed their surprise at the lack of fire protection when they purchased their property. Kevin acknowledged, “Either someone didn’t tell me or I didn’t think to ask such a question,” adding that he had never encountered such a situation in North Dakota.
Properties in these unprotected areas have the option to either annex into a nearby fire district or enter into a fire protection agreement with another service provider. The Hoerners stated that exploring these options is now a priority for them, although they take full responsibility for the oversight. “It’s just something that now we know,” Sue Hoerner commented.
The shed fire resulted in significant loss, estimated between $30,000 and $50,000, as it consumed propane tanks, lithium batteries for solar power, and a generator. Fortunately, the couple is grateful that the flames did not spread to the adjacent forest or neighboring properties. To help with the costs associated with rebuilding Kevin’s workshop, the couple has set up a GoFundMe page.
