press release from Tucson Fire Department:

Barrett Baker Date: 11/03/2012
Public Information Officer TDD: 837-7016
410-1901 pager
Barrett.baker@tucsonaz.gov

FIRE BREAKS OUT IN MCKALE CENTER CAPTAIN EQUIPMENT ROOM
TWO ALARM RESPONSE FROM TFD TO CONTROL

Dispatch Time –9:26 P.M.
On-Scene Time –9:29 P.M.

A fire broke out in an equipment room this evening at the University of Arizona’s McKale Center. University of Arizona Police responded to a smoke alarm generated from McKale Center per their standard operating procedures and confirmed the smoke alarm once they arrived on scene. The first unit from Tucson Fire arrived on scene three minutes after being dispatched and noticed smoke coming from the roof area of McKale. They immediately called for more resources and began the process of charging the sprinkler system and standpipe system, both things that support firefighting operations.

An attack team, consisting of 10 firefighters, entered McKale to determine the location of the fire, along with help from UAPD. The alarm panel specified a certain room and the firefighters confirmed they had heavy smoke and water coming out of the room from under the door. Firefighters made entry into the room and had flames showing along with heavy smoke. They quickly extinguished the fire but visibility was minimal due to the amount of residual smoke. A sprinkler head had activated in the room, assisting in the extinguishment of the fire. Actions were immediately taken to evacuate as much smoke as possible to improve visibility and get secondary confirmation the entire fire was controlled. Firefighters from two ladder trucks had also made their way to the roof of McKale to ensure the fire had not spread to the roof. Two alarms were dispatched to the scene, consisting of twenty-one units and forty-eight firefighters. There were no injuries to firefighters. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation and no estimation of damages had been made.

Thankfully no one was present in the equipment room when the fire broke out, or injured.

The 3rd annual Pima County Regional Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony (to honor fallen officers) will be held tomorrow May 6th, at the Tucson Convention Center’s grand ballroom at 9 a.m. (260 S. Church). U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona Dennis Burke will be the keynote speaker. The Master Of Ceremonies will be Tucson resident and 17th Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Richard Carmona.

Photos and bios of fallen officers (since 1878) will be displayed around the room, and on large screens with their “end of watch” date listed. 42 regional officers have fallen in the line of duty since then, but fortunately none in 2009. This is a very moving ceremony to give law enforcement officers, families of the fallen officers, and the public the “opportunity to remember and recognize the sacrifices made by these heroes.” The saddest moment of this ceremony is when “taps” is played.

One can only admire these law enforcement men/women who serve to protect our society, and have to give the ultimate sacrifice of their life in the line of duty. My uncle Harold Sugiyama back home in Hawaii was the Captain of his police department, but he lived to 90, unlike these fallen officers, many of whom died in their thirties.

All regional law enforcement agencies are represented at this memorial service in uniform:
Tucson Police Dept., Pima County Sheriff’s Dept. (PCSD), U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Border Patrol, National Park Service, Arizona Dept. of Public Safety, Tohono O’odham Police, South Tucson Police, U of A Police, U.S. Immigration & Customs Service, Drug Enforcement Administration.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information contact PCSD Public Information Officer Deputy Jason Ogan at 520-351-3121.

KUAT Channel 6 video (58 minutes) of this event is online at: http://ondemand.azpm.org/ondemand-home/video-segment/2010/5/10/949-law-enforcement-memorial/