Page 16 - Desert Lightning News, So. AZ Edition, Aug. 4 2017

16 August 2017 Desert Lightning News www.aerotechnews.com/davis-monthanafb
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Courtesy photo
Flames engulf a palm tree July 15 after it was struck by lightning at the General William Blanchard Golf Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The A Shift fire crew from Station 2 of Davis-Monthan AFB Fire Emergency Services extinguished the fire within 10 minutes of arriving on scene.
D-M firefighters snuff out golf course blaze
by Staff Sgt. CHRIS DRZAZGOWSKI
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Firefighters responded to a report of fire that resulted from a lightning strike July 16 at General William Blanchard Golf Course.
At approximately 11 p.m., lightning struck a palm tree
Staff Sgt. Chris Drzazgowski
adjacent to the green on the golf course’s first hole.
The A Shift fire crew from Station 2 of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Fire Emergency Services extinguished the fire within 10 minutes of arriving on scene, according to Chief Jeff Somers, 355th Civil Engineer Squadron FES
operations chief.
The blaze lit up the backyards of those living on the
southeast corner of Commanders Circle.
“My wife is the one who recognized that the strike set the tree on fire,” said Col. Scott Campbell, 355th Fighter Wing commander. “The tree was fully engulfed and had flaming debris falling from it when the firefighters arrived. They had it out in just a few minutes.”
The fire caused minimal damage, leaving only scorch marks to the palm tree and a portion of its immediate surrounding area.
Scorch marks lead to the top of a palm tree
after it was struck by lightning on July 16 at Scorch marks litter the earth around a palm tree after it was struck by lightning on July 16 at the General William Blanchard the General William Blanchard Golf Course. Golf Course. The lightning struck the tree adjacent to the green area on the golf course’s first hole.
Staff Sgt. Chris Drzazgowski