KGUN 9News

Actions

Bisbee fire aftermath, flames leave scar on community

Posted at 5:57 PM, May 21, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-22 15:42:31-04

It's been nearly a week since a fire destroyed six buildings in Old Bisbee.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the city is asking the state to pay for the fighting costs.

Though the fire only burned about five acres, it left a scar on the community.

One of the property owners, who came to the scene for the first time today, said he's still in a state of disbelief.

Marcos Chavez-Martinez became the property owner about a year ago — when his father passed away.
Though he didn’t live there full-time — the time he spent there was always special.
 
I had a lot of childhood memories up here. I spent my holidays up here, with my dad.
He'd seen pictures of the damage but didn't know what to expect when he saw it in person.
Being able to look at it all, it started to settle in, you know a part of it is still disbelief. a lot of feelings of unsure it is what it is.
Michael Page was one of the first people to see the flames when they broke out.
It was a scary moment because it was so big. I could feel the heat from the highway.
He said Bisbee is a close community and believes it will come together to help those in need.
The first thing we do when something like this happens, is we do come together as a family and see what we can do to help.
It is what it is, just gotta move along and hope for the best.
Despite the damage, the destruction, and the memories lost, Chavez-Martinez says the one good, positive thing to take away from all of this is that nobody was hurt.