Dog rescued from destructive fire at East Valley home

CHANDLER, Ariz. — An animal was safely removed from a destructive fire Thursday morning in a Chandler neighborhood.

Firefighters from Chandler, Tempe and Mesa responded to a fire near Dobson and Elliot roads. Large clouds of smoke emanated from the residence and the flames caused the roof of the house to collapse.

No injuries were reported and a firefighter was seen carrying a dog away from the scene as crews worked to put out the blaze.

The Arizona Fire & Medical Authority has released tips on how to prevent fires from starting in your home.

“More than 4,000 Americans die in fires each year and approximately 25,000 are injured,” the authority said on its website. “An overwhelming number of fires occur in homes. »

First, the authority says every home must have at least one working smoke detector. Every level of the house and every sleeping area should be equipped with a working smoke detector to provide the best protection.

Devices should also be used in the manner recommended by the manufacturers, as overheating, short circuits and sparking can all cause a fire.

Finally, families should have an escape plan for each room in the house.

“Warn everyone to stay low to the ground when escaping a fire and to never open hot doors,” authorities said. “Choose a place where everyone can meet up after escaping the house. Get out and call for help.

The authority offers free home safety inspections. Schedule one with them by calling 623-544-5400.

“The Valley” is what locals call the Phoenix metropolitan area. It is considered the largest metropolitan area in the Southwest.

The valley is made up of several major cities other than Phoenix, including:

• Mesa
• Chandler
• Scottsdale
• Temple
• Glendale
• Surprise
• Peoria
• Gilbert
• The Mirage
• Avondale
• Litchfield Park
• Good year
• Buckeye

Whether a city is in the “East Valley” or “West Valley” depends on its location relative to Phoenix.

Valley cities have a combined population of 4,845,832 people, according to the 2020 United States Census. This makes it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the country, just behind the Boston and Atlanta areas.

How big is Maricopa County?

Maricopa County is the 4th largest county in the United States by population with 4,485,414 residents, according to the 2020 census.

The county is home to approximately 63% of Arizona's population and spans 9,224 square miles. This makes the county larger than seven U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire).

One of the largest park systems in the country is also located in Maricopa County. The county has approximately 120,000 acres of open parks including hundreds of miles of trails, nature centers and campgrounds.

The county seat is located in Phoenix, which is also the state capital and the fifth most populous city in the United States according to the census.

The county is named for the Maricopa, or Piipaash, Native American tribe.