On December 21, 2017, just before 8:00 p.m., Yavapai County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residential structure fire in the 22000 block of Lakewood Drive, Yarnell. When deputies arrived on scene, the home was fully engulfed in flames. The two occupants had already evacuated.
Personnel from Yarnell, Congress, Peeples Valley, and Wickenburg fire departments arrived to contain the flames. Although the fire spread into a wooded section southwest of the home, through the incredible efforts of fire fighters it was controlled prior to endangering nearby homes. Neighbors had reported hearing explosions during the incident.
The fire was eventually extinguished and destroyed not only the home, but a motorhome and storage shed. Estimated cost on the loss has not been determined.
The residents told deputies they were watching television when they heard the smoke alarm sounding. They checked their ‘sun room,” and saw smoke coming from inside the walls. An attempt to use a fire extinguisher was unsuccessful and the fire spread into the ceiling. The two occupants grabbed some important items and escaped successfully.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation with electrical concerns noted as a possible factor.