-Gila Region Community News, Calendar, Forum-

Just before Christmas this load of used tires, recently replaced with new ones on a Silver City fire truck, were transported to Columbus and given to the Nuevo Casas Grandes fire chief. In a recent communication between the sister cities fire chiefs it was learned by acting SCFD Chief Jeff Fell that the Mexican city's ladder truck was missing a dually tire and the rest of the tires were long out of tread. But this isn't the first:


In September 2016 then SCFD Chief Tim Heidrick now Lieutenant Heidrick (above on left) gave the same Nuevo Casas Grandes fire department old fire helmets and boots and an older model Jaws Of Life, complete with power unit, cutters and spreaders; seems that some of the firefighters were going into burning buildings without helmets nor fire resistant boots and they had never owned a Jaws Of Life even though the city down there has a population of 55,000+.

No Shame: From my speaking with firefighters and medics who have worked with Tim Heidrick over his 19 year career Tim is a consummate firefighter and medic but a good firefighter doesn't always make for a good administrator and after two and a half years as Chief he stepped down to resume his previous rank of Lieutenant. As I sat down with Tim for the second time in as many weeks he was still ecstatic being back on the line and said stepping down as chief was like "a great weight being lifted" .... No shame.

In photo above Tim Heidrick, left and Kyle Marshall on-shift at Station 2.