Casa Grande Dispatch (AZ)
Friday, February 1, 2013
Florence man dies in fire at RV park -
Injured wife transported to burn center in Phoenix
FLORENCE - A local man was killed and his wife rescued from a Thursday morning house fire in an RV retirement community.
Al Trunkenbolz died in the fire, which neighbors said began with a boom shortly before 7:30 a.m. His wife, Elsie, was flown to the burn center at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix.
Their home was at 401 Palo Verde Lane in Caliente RV Park, a 55-and-over community off Arizona 79 in the northern part of town.
A neighbor entered the burning park model home and was able to rescue Mrs. Trunkenbolz before firefighters arrived, Deputy Town Manager Jess Knudson said. The neighbor suffered slight burns but declined medical treatment at the scene. Knudson said the man did not wish to be contacted and he declined to identify him.
Firefighters arrived at 7:35 a.m. to find the home engulfed in flames. Their priority was to stop the fire from spreading among the community's tightly spaced park model homes "and they were successful," Knudson said.
Once the fire was out, there was no visible damage to neighboring homes, but there was very little left of the Trunkenbolz home.
Knudson had no information Thursday afternoon on the cause of the fire but said the town has requested and received assistance from the cities of Globe and Casa Grande in investigating the fire.
Neighbors said the fire started with a boom, followed by a cloud of black smoke and red flames. They said the Trunkenbolzes were winter visitors who had been staying at the Caliente park for perhaps 20 years. County records indicate a home address for the couple in Colorado.
A hospital spokesman said Thursday afternoon they could not provide details on Mrs. Trunkenbolz 's condition.
Interim Fire Chief Mike Duran referred questions to Knudson.
Al Trunkenbolz died in the fire, which neighbors said began with a boom shortly before 7:30 a.m. His wife, Elsie, was flown to the burn center at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix.
Their home was at 401 Palo Verde Lane in Caliente RV Park, a 55-and-over community off Arizona 79 in the northern part of town.
A neighbor entered the burning park model home and was able to rescue Mrs. Trunkenbolz before firefighters arrived, Deputy Town Manager Jess Knudson said. The neighbor suffered slight burns but declined medical treatment at the scene. Knudson said the man did not wish to be contacted and he declined to identify him.
Firefighters arrived at 7:35 a.m. to find the home engulfed in flames. Their priority was to stop the fire from spreading among the community's tightly spaced park model homes "and they were successful," Knudson said.
Once the fire was out, there was no visible damage to neighboring homes, but there was very little left of the Trunkenbolz home.
Knudson had no information Thursday afternoon on the cause of the fire but said the town has requested and received assistance from the cities of Globe and Casa Grande in investigating the fire.
Neighbors said the fire started with a boom, followed by a cloud of black smoke and red flames. They said the Trunkenbolzes were winter visitors who had been staying at the Caliente park for perhaps 20 years. County records indicate a home address for the couple in Colorado.
A hospital spokesman said Thursday afternoon they could not provide details on Mrs. Trunkenbolz 's condition.
Interim Fire Chief Mike Duran referred questions to Knudson.
Florence Reminder and Blade-Tribune (Coolidge, AZ)
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Man, 89, dies in fire
A local man was killed and his wife was rescued from a house fire the morning of Jan. 31 at Caliente Casa de Sol retirement community.
Al Trunkenbolz died in the fire, which neighbors said began with a boom shortly before 7:30 a.m. His wife, Elsie, was flown to the burn center at Maricopa Medical Center.
A neighbor bravely entered the burning park model home at 401 Palo Verde Lane and rescued Mrs. Trunkenbolz before firefighters arrived, Deputy Town Manager Jess Knudson said. The man suffered slight burns but declined medical treatment at the scene. Knudson said the man did not wish to be contacted and declined to identify him.
A hospital spokesperson said last week she could not provide details on Mrs. Trunkenbolz ’s condition. Her son said this week she had undergone several surgeries and remained in very critical condition.
Jay Trunkenbolz said his parents, who live in Colorado, have been spending winters in Florence for perhaps 35 years, and his father would have turned 90 this year. Al’s brother and sister-in-law, Lowell and Doris Trunkenbolz , have also been winter visitors here for 19 years. Lowell died last year.
Jay said before his father retired, he worked in RV sales and service and was also a real estate developer. His mother worked in bookkeeping for the family businesses. Jay said his father also bought and sold lots in Caliente.
He said earlier this week they had not yet scheduled a service for his father while the family remains focused on his mother’s recovery.
“If not for a neighbor rescuing my mother from the fire, she would not be with us.” Jay said the neighbor prefers to remain anonymous. “This neighbor risked his life to save my mother’s.”
Firefighters arrived at 7:35 a.m. to find the home engulfed in flames. Their priority was to stop the fire from spreading among the community’s tightly-spaced park model homes “and they were successful,” Knudson said.
At the scene after the fire was out, there was no visible damage to neighboring homes but there was very little left of the Trunkenbolz home.
Knudson said the town requested and received assistance from the cities of Globe and Casa Grande in investigating the fire, and they hoped to have a report on the cause today.
Neighbors said the fire started with a boom, followed by a cloud of black smoke and red flames. Knudson said early indications were that the fire began in the area of the furnace.
Al Trunkenbolz died in the fire, which neighbors said began with a boom shortly before 7:30 a.m. His wife, Elsie, was flown to the burn center at Maricopa Medical Center.
A neighbor bravely entered the burning park model home at 401 Palo Verde Lane and rescued Mrs. Trunkenbolz before firefighters arrived, Deputy Town Manager Jess Knudson said. The man suffered slight burns but declined medical treatment at the scene. Knudson said the man did not wish to be contacted and declined to identify him.
A hospital spokesperson said last week she could not provide details on Mrs. Trunkenbolz ’s condition. Her son said this week she had undergone several surgeries and remained in very critical condition.
Jay Trunkenbolz said his parents, who live in Colorado, have been spending winters in Florence for perhaps 35 years, and his father would have turned 90 this year. Al’s brother and sister-in-law, Lowell and Doris Trunkenbolz , have also been winter visitors here for 19 years. Lowell died last year.
Jay said before his father retired, he worked in RV sales and service and was also a real estate developer. His mother worked in bookkeeping for the family businesses. Jay said his father also bought and sold lots in Caliente.
He said earlier this week they had not yet scheduled a service for his father while the family remains focused on his mother’s recovery.
“If not for a neighbor rescuing my mother from the fire, she would not be with us.” Jay said the neighbor prefers to remain anonymous. “This neighbor risked his life to save my mother’s.”
Firefighters arrived at 7:35 a.m. to find the home engulfed in flames. Their priority was to stop the fire from spreading among the community’s tightly-spaced park model homes “and they were successful,” Knudson said.
At the scene after the fire was out, there was no visible damage to neighboring homes but there was very little left of the Trunkenbolz home.
Knudson said the town requested and received assistance from the cities of Globe and Casa Grande in investigating the fire, and they hoped to have a report on the cause today.
Neighbors said the fire started with a boom, followed by a cloud of black smoke and red flames. Knudson said early indications were that the fire began in the area of the furnace.
Florence Reminder and Blade-Tribune (Coolidge, AZ)
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Heater suspected in fatal fire
fatal fire at Caliente RV park may have been started by the park model home’s heater or repairs made to it, according to a written report on the fire investigation submitted last week by the Casa Grande fire marshal.
Officially, the cause was undetermined. But suspicion was directed at the heater based on interview statements, a report of a similar fire in the park that originated from a similar heater, and the fire pattern, according to the report’s conclusion statement.
Al Trunkenbolz , 89, a longtime winter visitor from Colorado, died in the fire, which neighbors said began with a boom shortly before 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 31. His wife, Elsie, was rescued by a neighbor and was flown to the burn center at Maricopa Medical Center.
Officially, the cause was undetermined. But suspicion was directed at the heater based on interview statements, a report of a similar fire in the park that originated from a similar heater, and the fire pattern, according to the report’s conclusion statement.
Al Trunkenbolz , 89, a longtime winter visitor from Colorado, died in the fire, which neighbors said began with a boom shortly before 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 31. His wife, Elsie, was rescued by a neighbor and was flown to the burn center at Maricopa Medical Center.