Payson Roundup

Guess we should count our blessings.

We could start with the assorted fire departments protecting Rim Country.

Seems like every time we turn around in this space, we have occasion to comment on government’s inertia, turf wars and bewilderment. For example — just read the editorial in the space above.

Fortunately, the various fire departments have worked out very different relationships with one another. For example, take a look at Tuesday’s story about the response to a fire that consumed two homes in Chaparral Pines last weekend. By the time firefighters extinguished the twin blazes and prevented the spread to a third luxury home, five different departments had played a role.

Crews from Payson, Hellsgate, Whispering Pines, Houston Mesa and the Pine-Strawberry fire departments all either arrived on the scene or provided coverage for the crews who did.

For instance, Payson threw every truck and crew it had at the fire — and the crew from Whispering Pines responded to two emergency calls inside the Payson town limits during the crisis.

On scene, crews battled thick smoke, soaring temperatures and heat exhaustion — but they operated as a single team, no matter which department dispatched the truck.

So thanks, guys. We appreciate the professionalism, dedication and that unquenchable willingness to drag heavy hoses into blazing, smoke-filled buildings.

And if we had to have just one set of government agencies cooperate effectively — we’re blessed that it’s the fire department. Still, even though we wouldn’t necessarily expect the board of supervisors, the water district board or even the town planners to charge the flames — we wouldn’t mind if they took a lesson in cooperation for the public good from the fire departments.