Catastrophe Here In Prescott Valley

[monkeyswrench]

As most towns, they were building a giant mixed use structure in town. Massive by our scale, shops, apartments and hotel...

Woke to a txt this morning, fire in the area. Leaving my house, 11 miles away, could see the white plum against the cloud cover.

It's all gone! Many people weren't fans of it, but it was looking good I thought. I had quite a few acquaintances working on the project...who will be out of work. I don't know if the contractors will get stuck not being paid now...it will hurt many up here.

Site has been closed since Thursday for Easter. Real suspicious. I haven't heard if anyone was hurt yet, hoping that's not the case.

 

[Flatsix66]

Wow, I hope Colts BBQ is ok.

 

[Thomas K]

Holy Crap!

 

[monkeyswrench]

Wow, I hope Colts BBQ is ok.

They have good distance between, maybe 200ft? The mini-golf at "In The Game", it may be melted though. There are some apartments just to the east, left of frame, that were evacuated. 2 of the 3 buildings were just allowed to return, the other runs parallel, and at a distance of maybe 60-80ft. They are saying they may have heat damage I guess.

Apparently fire started at 1am. Reports from witnesses say it started around the 3rd floor. It's been drizzling most the night. They called in everyone, from as far as Flag and north Phoenix. Our guys locally really aren't equipped for something this massive. I think Prescott has a large ladder truck, mostly because the casino, but we mostly seem geared towards small residential and grass fires.

Chatter everywhere seems it looks highly suspect...a lot of old timers didn't like the big building, but I can't see them going center mass to ignite it. Insurance is a rumor, but I know nothing of the developers. Homeless taking shelter from the rain maybe? All kinds of investigator type cars parked at the IC trailer.

 

[Waterjunky]

Could also be from the human cockroaches that invade places like that. Setting fires is a common one among the homeless.

Hard to say. No matter the cause, its not good.

 

[Cdog]

Looks like a building from the eastern comblock.

 

[Terminal Velocity]

They have good distance between, maybe 200ft? The mini-golf at "In The Game", it may be melted though. There are some apartments just to the east, left of frame, that were evacuated. 2 of the 3 buildings were just allowed to return, the other runs parallel, and at a distance of maybe 60-80ft. They are saying they may have heat damage I guess.

Apparently fire started at 1am. Reports from witnesses say it started around the 3rd floor. It's been drizzling most the night. They called in everyone, from as far as Flag and north Phoenix. Our guys locally really aren't equipped for something this massive. I think Prescott has a large ladder truck, mostly because the casino, but we mostly seem geared towards small residential and grass fires.

Chatter everywhere seems it looks highly suspect...a lot of old timers didn't like the big building, but I can't see them going center mass to ignite it. Insurance is a rumor, but I know nothing of the developers. Homeless taking shelter from the rain maybe? All kinds of investigator type cars parked at the IC trailer.

@Terminal Velocity , either you're a Pyro or it was a typo...hoping the later

Apologies, looks like a fire training center. and being April 1st I assumed wrong.

 

[monkeyswrench]

In the pic, is the parking structure. It may be damaged beyond use now. It used to have a wood framed structure surrounding it, and slightly taller. To the right, is one of 4 stairwells, with nothing left.

Looks like a building from the eastern comblock.

Apologies, looks like a fire training center. and being April 1st I assumed wrong.

Hadn't thought about what it looked like to others...I've been watching it go up. In shock of what isn't there today.

 

[DILLIGAF]

Damn. Sorry to hear that

 

[Flying_Lavey]

Could also be from the human cockroaches that invade places like that. Setting fires is a common one among the homeless.

Hard to say. No matter the cause, its not good.

That's my thought. It was always really common to see homeless in construction sites, specially after a long weekend down in Tucson. Wouldn't be surprised to hear the plague has migrated North.

 

[monkeyswrench]

That's my thought. It was always really common to see homeless in construction sites, specially after a long weekend down in Tucson. Wouldn't be surprised to hear the plague has migrated North.

We don't have a lot of homeless up here in general, it's like a "migratory" deal. We get a few from Flag during winter, but we get more from the Valley during summer. For the most part, they tend to stay closer to the Prescott area as there are more places offering "help", and a, generally speaking, more liberal populace. I'm more on the asshole side of town?

The problem is, there are drugs everywhere. That means there are homeless people everywhere trying to steal materials, or crash somewhere. It sucks.

 

[stillhustlin]

Insurance fraud? Maybe the deal didn’t look as appealing with the rise in interest rates and they didn’t have a long term rate locked after the construction loan.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Insurance fraud? Maybe the deal didn’t look as appealing with the rise in interest rates and they didn’t have a long term rate locked after the construction loan.

My knowledge of construction is just at the contractor level, nothing as complex as something like this. I was wondering if the funds were based more on the construction costs at the time of bids. This project was started during covid, so I'm sure contracts were awarded far in advance. As we've all seen, materials have skyrocketed since. Contractors may have been losing, the developers my have been running shy due to various things. I'm sure everyone involved will be having their finances looked over really hard.

 

[Thomas K]

 

[Thomas K]

From the police and fire that I talked with, no one was hurt and no other structures were lost. I did see multiple job site security camera stations. Some where melted.

 

[Backlash]

I'm saying either dumbass kids, a homeless person or an insurance job.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Glad no one was hurt. Sad to see that much damage, even to the parking structure. I can't even fathom the numbers involved. There had to be a million in scaffolding alone.

 

[Thomas K]

It looks like everything has been compromised and will have to be taken down.

 

[stillhustlin]

This is off topic but what is the multi-family rental market like in Prescott? Are there a lot of new apartment complex’s going in here? I gotta think there is still opportunities to built stack flats with land costs.

 

[n2otoofast4u]

WOW...... This will take a bit to sort out. That said, this isn't all that uncommon, especially in todays world. We have seen it before, and unfortunately we will see it again.

 

[n2otoofast4u]

This is off topic but what is the multi-family rental market like in Prescott? Are there a lot of new apartment complex’s going in here? I gotta think there is still opportunities to built stack flats with land costs.

We see invites several times a month for multifamily stuff in Prescott.

 

[Javajoe]

Apologies, looks like a fire training center. and being April 1st I assumed wrong.

I thought the same thing. Looks just like one but a lot larger

 

[stillhustlin]

We see invites several times a month for multifamily stuff in Prescott.

As an LP?

 

[rivermobster]

 

[playdeep]

Glad no one was hurt. Sad to see that much damage, even to the parking structure. I can't even fathom the numbers involved. There had to be a million in scaffolding alone.

Off subject but I've been meaning to ask...
Whatever became of the proposed reopening of the dirt track at the fairgrounds?
Thought it was a done deal?

 

[monkeyswrench]

Off subject but I've been meaning to ask...
Whatever became of the proposed reopening of the dirt track at the fairgrounds?
Thought it was a done deal?

The fairgrounds were bought by a new party, horse folk. They seem ok, but the area for the track landed on state, county and private property...then the retired bastards botched about noise...as always. The next area was planned out in Chino Valley. Well, the town manager folk there decided they wanted pot farms, and voted down a track. Sucks! Most the locals sold off their stocks, some of the others trailer far

 

[monkeyswrench]

This is off topic but what is the multi-family rental market like in Prescott? Are there a lot of new apartment complex’s going in here? I gotta think there is still opportunities to built stack flats with land costs.

I'm not a player in the game...wanted to be, but not going to happen.

Rentals are pricey due to supply. The problem is, our economy really kind of sucks. We don't have a lot of industry at all to support what we have. The best paying gigs are construction, but they are building for retirees and investors building rentals. I'm not smart enough to know what that means in the long run, but my gut tells me it could be a bad thing.

My house was a repo. I bought in 12, and it had been vacant for a few years. Last owner was a construction guy...

 

[monkeyswrench]

Word floating around, 60 million dollar loss. Holy crap!

 

[SOCALCRICKETT]

The fairgrounds were bought by a new party, horse folk. They seem ok, but the area for the track landed on state, county and private property...then the retired bastards botched about noise...as always. The next area was planned out in Chino Valley. Well, the town manager folk there decided they wanted pot farms, and voted down a track. Sucks! Most the locals sold off their stocks, some of the others trailer far

I don't know much about that section of the world, is chino valley kind of a shit hole area?

 

[monkeyswrench]

I don't know much about that section of the world, is chino valley kind of a shit hole area?

No, not at all. My house sits just east of Chino...as a crow flies, about the same distance there or to Prescott Valley proper. I just have no paved roads that way. Chino is a little less developed than PV, basically lacking a hospital.

Some really nice spreads, and some older ones. Kind of like Hemet 20 years ago? The pot farms are like the green house types, modern operations. I'm just bitter they took that tax and permit money, and not the racer's.

 

[SOCALCRICKETT]

No, not at all. My house sits just east of Chino...as a crow flies, about the same distance there or to Prescott Valley proper. I just have no paved roads that way. Chino is a little less developed than PV, basically lacking a hospital.

Some really nice spreads, and some older ones. Kind of like Hemet 20 years ago? The pot farms are like the green house types, modern operations. I'm just bitter they took that tax and permit money, and not the racer's.

Gotcha, how far is chino from prescott valley and the hospital. I see flight medic job postings up there all the time and it's got me thinking

 

[monkeyswrench]

Gotcha, how far is chino from prescott valley and the hospital. I see flight medic job postings up there all the time and it's got me thinking

Chino to either of the hospitals is 20-30 minutes, mostly due to stoplights. No freeway involved out here. "Native Air" I believe is the medic chopper. One at each hospital. They are fairly busy, any trauma center stuff goes the valley, and some cardiac emergency goes to Flag. Had one land 3 weeks ago in the neighbor's yard.

From my door to Havasu is just under 4 hours, and rarely any traffic. Chino Valley would be 20-30 minutes less.

 

[SOCALCRICKETT]

Chino to either of the hospitals is 20-30 minutes, mostly due to stoplights. No freeway involved out here. "Native Air" I believe is the medic chopper. One at each hospital. They are fairly busy, any trauma center stuff goes the valley, and some cardiac emergency goes to Flag. Had one land 3 weeks ago in the neighbor's yard.

From my door to Havasu is just under 4 hours, and rarely any traffic. Chino Valley would be 20-30 minutes less.

My wife and I are going back and forth on heading up that way or going to havasu full time. If I stay working out of the blythe station it's only 61 miles door to door for me. I don't mind the extra drive to the prescott area, the only concern I have is that it's mostly 2 lane highway, one bad day of weather or one bad accident and my commute just doubled

 

[monkeyswrench]

My wife and I are going back and forth on heading up that way or going to havasu full time. If I stay working out of the blythe station it's only 61 miles door to door for me. I don't mind the extra drive to the prescott area, the only concern I have is that it's mostly 2 lane highway, one bad day of weather or one bad accident and my commute just doubled

Multiple ways in if you have a head's up, like bad weather I40 closure. A wreck on 89, between I40 and Prescott, that's a bitch if you get caught up in it.

 

[LBsuperJET]

Word floating around, 60 million dollar loss. Holy crap!

My in-laws say that the Fain's own that project/development. Gonna be a huge loss regardless on how it shakes out. I'm not the biggest fan of those 'types' of developments in an area like PV, but I don't hate on anyone making bucks like that and a loss is still a loss. MIL says it has been super windy out there last couple days too.

 

[monkeyswrench]

My in-laws say that the Fain's own that project/development. Gonna be a huge loss regardless on how it shakes out. I'm not the biggest fan of those 'types' of developments in an area like PV, but I don't hate on anyone making bucks like that and a loss is still a loss. MIL says it has been super windy out there last couple days too.

The Fain's owned a lot of the property surrounding the project. About 6 years ago there was some sort of shake up/restructuring that happened. I'd heard it was "out of town" money, but that doesn't mean they weren't still tied to it. I'm pretty well acquainted with one of the big subs on the job, but I sure as hell wasn't going to bug him today...or probably for a week or so. I'm sure he was going to be on the phone with his insurance and probably lawyers too.

It's been windy, really bad Saturday. By sundown last night it was pretty calm, and started raining a bit after midnight. We were supposed to get snow. The good thing, the rain kept the air quality decent, and also kept the embers from lighting other stuff.

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

I don't know much about that section of the world, is chino valley kind of a shit hole area?

Only if you're the devil. To everyone else its God's country. Haha

Honestly like every where else it depends on where you are. There are nice areas in Chino Valley, you just need to know where to look.

My neighborhood is nice. 1 acre minimums and custom homes. How ever i got most the residents by 35-40 years and im 38.

My neighbor has a home listed for 815k i think. 2 acres 2k sq ft house with probably a 1k plus sq ft shop. Solar panels. Its done up pretty nice.

Monkey is in P.V. and i like the area he is in too.

 

[monkeyswrench]

The plot thickens....
My son's school was hit, vandalized, Friday and Saturday nights as well. Paint was poured in the track, ticket booths broken into, glass shards put in long jump pit...on Friday. The following night, the gym was broken into, trophy case damaged and some other stuff around the school grounds. They estimate close to 60k in damages! In a released photo, suspect looks like he's wearing a mask, and a go-pro, dark hoody, blacked out clothing. Word on the street, suspect may have been photo'd in the gym unmasked by a camera not seen...trying to verify this.

Now, both nights, vandalism took place between midnight and 3am. The fire was reported on the third of the three nights at 1am. The locations are roughly a half mile apart. Police are asking for porch video from a couple streets adjacent the school, for the vandalism stuff. No statements about any connections have been made. We're a pretty boring place though, and that's a lot of destructive crap in 72 hours!

 

[LBsuperJET]

The Fain's owned a lot of the property surrounding the project. About 6 years ago there was some sort of shake up/restructuring that happened. I'd heard it was "out of town" money, but that doesn't mean they weren't still tied to it. I'm pretty well acquainted with one of the big subs on the job, but I sure as hell wasn't going to bug him today...or probably for a week or so. I'm sure he was going to be on the phone with his insurance and probably lawyers too.

It's been windy, really bad Saturday. By sundown last night it was pretty calm, and started raining a bit after midnight. We were supposed to get snow. The good thing, the rain kept the air quality decent, and also kept the embers from lighting other stuff.

Yeah, good idea not to bug him for a few days lol. Between that and the HS vandalism, that is the most riffraff that I have EVER heard of happening up that way. I love it up there and would def entertain the possibility of moving up there for a slightly quieter life someday.

 

[Nordie]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5OzKQUyNf8/?igsh=MTBkYmlxdnZ0cDR3dA==

 

[monkeyswrench]

Update: Holy Shit!

We're the podunct cousin of Prescott. Right now things are weird as hell. FBI as well as ATF on scene. Local PD is officially tying the school incidents to the fire. Wait, there's more...

This morning at 4:30 am alarms went off at the school. Explosion in the gym. What was damaged was the power that serves the campus, as well as the district's servers. Internet district wide is down. Parents of high school students were called, no school. There are a shit ton of vehicles I don't recognize at the school. These boys ain't local.

Rumors floating that "threats" were made at school, but nothing concrete yet. School may be a target, but the suspect is still at large. The guy is fairly skilled, one video has the masked guy throwing a small rock to take out a camera...not exactly a talent the average "incel" or emo has. The other thing, all actions up till now have taken place when nobody was around. That is at least some ray of hope.

My kid at that school is the type to act quick, and think later. (He may have some of my traits.) I worry what he may try to protect others. Weird things none of us should ever need to think about. If the suspect is a student, it can be a bad scenario.

Videos are sketchy, suspects face is covered, hard to get a judge on build due to clothing...looks to be tall, over 6ft some have said.

I'll post more if I find out more

 

[n2otoofast4u]

Ironically, got another invite for a big housing job in Prescott this morning that I think we are going to chase.

 

[wayniac]

Update: Holy Shit!

We're the podunct cousin of Prescott. Right now things are weird as hell. FBI as well as ATF on scene. Local PD is officially tying the school incidents to the fire. Wait, there's more...

This morning at 4:30 am alarms went off at the school. Explosion in the gym. What was damaged was the power that serves the campus, as well as the district's servers. Internet district wide is down. Parents of high school students were called, no school. There are a shit ton of vehicles I don't recognize at the school. These boys ain't local.

Rumors floating that "threats" were made at school, but nothing concrete yet. School may be a target, but the suspect is still at large. The guy is fairly skilled, one video has the masked guy throwing a small rock to take out a camera...not exactly a talent the average "incel" or emo has. The other thing, all actions up till now have taken place when nobody was around. That is at least some ray of hope.

My kid at that school is the type to act quick, and think later. (He may have some of my traits.) I worry what he may try to protect others. Weird things none of us should ever need to think about. If the suspect is a student, it can be a bad scenario.

Videos are sketchy, suspects face is covered, hard to get a judge on build due to clothing...looks to be tall, over 6ft some have said.

I'll post more if I find out more

some crazy stuff as i am looking to move here...

 

[monkeyswrench]

some crazy stuff as i am looking to move here...

Honestly, it's not usually this way. That's why I moved here 12 years ago. A lot has happened though, really in just the past few years though, in terms of some of the more recent residents. It will be interesting to see who and why.

Ironically, got another invite for a big housing job in Prescott this morning that I think we are going to chase.

As investor or builder? No offense, but us rednecks hate the big "housing projects".

Locally, the town annexed some land at the edge of town. Reaching for federal funds by building "low income housing". Some seriously pissed off people. Most of us prefer the cows grazing there. It's been a fight for a few years now. The sad thing, it will effect people in my ares more than town. Since we're County, we have no say.

I'm interested to see what the next 5-10 years will bring here. A vast majority of the homes are owned by retired people. Time marches on, but we don't. The Cali exodus drove prices stupid high, many will take a loss I think. I'm not a money guy though, just a spectator.

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

some crazy stuff as i am looking to move here...

This stuff only happens in Prescott Valley and Prescott.

Not Chino Valley

 

[monkeyswrench]

This stuff only happens in Prescott Valley and Prescott.

Not Chino Valley

You're just jealous you guys haven't made the Phoenix news

Lots of chatter of parents not sending kids to school until an arrest is made. Press release by PVPD chief even had the district superintendent claiming how safe the schools are.
Yessir, we have ourselves a regular big city shit show.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Phone call from district: "Although we have been assure there have not been any threats made against the schools, we are electing to close all schools tomorrow out of an abundance of caution..."

May be an interesting weekend. Honestly, if I were the suspect, I'd fear the public way more than the cops. Sports funding at the high school took a hit, and a ton of workers are hosed...some pissed off people. The cops have rules, and the people have emotion.

 

[4Waters]

Definitely got really interesting really quick

 

[MPHSystems]

Update: Holy Shit!

We're the podunct cousin of Prescott. Right now things are weird as hell. FBI as well as ATF on scene. Local PD is officially tying the school incidents to the fire. Wait, there's more...

This morning at 4:30 am alarms went off at the school. Explosion in the gym. What was damaged was the power that serves the campus, as well as the district's servers. Internet district wide is down. Parents of high school students were called, no school. There are a shit ton of vehicles I don't recognize at the school. These boys ain't local.

Rumors floating that "threats" were made at school, but nothing concrete yet. School may be a target, but the suspect is still at large. The guy is fairly skilled, one video has the masked guy throwing a small rock to take out a camera...not exactly a talent the average "incel" or emo has. The other thing, all actions up till now have taken place when nobody was around. That is at least some ray of hope.

My kid at that school is the type to act quick, and think later. (He may have some of my traits.) I worry what he may try to protect others. Weird things none of us should ever need to think about. If the suspect is a student, it can be a bad scenario.

Videos are sketchy, suspects face is covered, hard to get a judge on build due to clothing...looks to be tall, over 6ft some have said.

I'll post more if I find out more

Is there an out of towner who opened a muffler shop and was required to install a prohibitively expensive sewer line by the city?

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

Is there an out of towner who opened a muffler shop and was required to install a prohibitively expensive sewer line by the city?

Haha im not aware of a kill dozer part 2. However monkey is correct saying you should fear the citizens over the LEO's.

As a lineman for the local power company we have had issues with citizens firing shots at or near our crews. We have areas we dont go to unless we have law enforcement. Everyone is just plays nicer when they are around.