ECRWSS Carrier Route PreSorted Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 371 Cave Creek, AZ
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Clark Bodywork Serving the communities of Anthem, Black Canyon City, Carefree, Cave Creek, Desert Hills, New River, North Phoenix, Tramonto and Peoria
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
INSIDE
This Week
NEWS............................. 4 Hunkapi Programs cares for horses displaced from fire
OPINION.......................7 Dialogue, not baseless claims, needed on policing
FREE ($1 OUTSIDE OF CAVE CREEK) | TheFoothillsFocus.com
Barro’s, Pepsi team up to raise money for pediatric cancer
OPINION................................ 6
BUSINESS.............................. 8
ARTS....................................... 11 FEATURES.......................... 13
CLASSIFIEDS..................... 14
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Officials talk evacuations, prevention in wake of fires BY CONNOR DZIAWURA Foothills Focus Staff Writer
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little over a week after the East Desert Fire burned 1,492 acres, forcing some 130 homes to evacuate in the Cave Creek area, the town found itself reeling from yet another fire. Dubbed the Ocotillo Fire, the blaze was contained by firefighters at 980 acres June 2— but not before it burned down eight homes and 12 outbuildings, according to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. In response to the two emergencies, fire and city officials
The Ocotillo Fire quickly grew to 980 acres, destroying eight homes and 12 outbuildings in the process, according to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. Roughly 500 homes were evacuated. The fire was contained June 2. (Photo courtesy town of Cave Creek)
held a public meeting after containment June 2 to provide the community with information and answer questions. The Ocotillo Fire started the afternoon of May 30 along Ocotillo Road, roughly 1.3 miles northwest of Cave Creek, but grew rapidly, forcing the evacuation an estimated 500 homes, or up to 860 people, according to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. The evacuation was partially lifted May 31 and fully June 2. The Ocotillo Fire was determined to be human caused and is under investigation, as is the
see FIRE page 2
Adventure guide finds hope in the ashes after fire
people about the area’s history and wildlife while driving them around in Broncos and Jeeps. or the past 30 years, On May 30, tragedy stuck Johnny Ringo’s Carewhen the Ocotillo Fire tore free Adventures has through 1,216 acres in Cave been a cultural pillar in Creek and destroyed 20 the Cave Creek communibuildings—eight homes and ty. Owner Johnny Ringo is 12 structures—including known far and wide for his Ringo’s entire fleet of custom popular guided adventure tour vehicles and his garage tours that showcase the filled with equipment, tools, beauty and magic of the Soartwork and treasured memJohnny Ringo of Carefree Adventures lost his tour vehicles in the Ocotillo Fire. (Photo by Air Major Media) noran Desert. orabilia. The source of the As a young boy, Ringo watched spaghet- ter he left the corporate world and moved fire remains under investigation. ti Westerns and dreamed of becoming a to Arizona to pursue his dream. After years “I lost two Jeeps and two Broncos, as well cowboy with a black-and-white horse. That of hard work, Ringo built a successful tour see HOPE page 3 dream became a reality many years later af- business that entertained and educated
BY KAMALA KIRK Foothills Focus Contributing Writer
FEATURES................. 13
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