Water Wheel Fire and Medical District

10/22/2026

We can’t thank you enough for your support. It means so much to our crews and community.

On Tuesday, October 20th we presented a $2,000 donation to the Water Wheel Fire & Medical District to be used toward the purchase of a Lucas Device, which provides mechanical chest compressions to patients in cardiac arrest.
Pictured L-R Firefighter/EMT Crystal Cameron, Captain Tyler Hamilton, Fire Chief Chris Lecher, Sparks Auxiliary President Mindy Russell, Elks ER Irma Bramlet and Elks PER/Secretary Adrianne Troutman
Photo credit: Lu Anne Frost, Treasurer
ELKS CARE ~ ELKS SHARE

10/22/2026

🚨 WEATHER ALERT – GILA COUNTY, ARIZONA 🚨

⚠️ TORNADO WARNING / SEVERE WEATHER ALERT ⚠️

Residents of Payson, Star Valley, Pine, Strawberry, Whispering Pines, and surrounding Gila County communities are urged to stay alert and take weather warnings seriously.

🌪️ PLEASE TAKE THE FOLLOWING PRECAUTIONS:

🔹 Seek shelter immediately inside a sturdy building.
🔹 Move to an interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows.
🔹 Stay indoors and keep your phone nearby for emergency alerts.
🔹 Avoid unnecessary travel and never drive through flooded roadways.
🔹 Monitor updates from the National Weather Service and local emergency management officials.

If a tornado warning is issued for your immediate area, do not wait to see the storm. Take shelter immediately.

Please share this message with family, friends, and neighbors to help keep our community informed and safe.

Stay weather-aware and look out for one another. ❤️

🌪️ 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐨 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲: 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐨!

Tornadoes can develop quickly, and knowing how to respond can make all the difference in keeping yourself and your family safe.

If a tornado threatens your area, remember these important safety tips:

🏠 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫 in a basement or small interior room on the lowest floor.

🪟 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬 and put as many walls as possible between yourself and the outdoors.

🛡️ 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐰 and protect your head and neck.

🚗 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐯𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬, get to a sturdy shelter. Do not shelter under an overpass.

⚠️ 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞:
A 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 means conditions are favorable for tornadoes. A 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar, and you should take shelter immediately.

📲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲𝐆𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬!

Sign up to receive notifications and important updates during local emergencies. Staying informed can help you take action when it matters most.

👉 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐮𝐩 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞:
https://www.getrave.com/login/gilacountyazemergmgmt

Being prepared before severe weather strikes can help protect lives.

🌩️ 𝐖𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲𝐆𝐢𝐥𝐚. 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮?

10/20/2026

🌶️🔥 LESS THAN 5 DAYS TO GO!!! 🔥🌶️

The countdown is ON for the 3rd Annual Chili & Salsa Cook-Off & Silent Auction hosted by the Water Wheel Fire & Medical District Sparks Auxiliary! 🎉

📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 Station 71 — 10603 N. Houston Mesa Road, Payson

🏆 THE COMPETITION IS HEATING UP! 🌶️

We are still looking for contestants to enter their favorite CHILI, SALSA, or BOTH! There is NO COST to enter, and we can’t wait to taste all the amazing recipes our community has to offer!

📧 Ready to compete? Email our Sparks Auxiliary President, Mindy Russell, at [email protected] to register.

🎁 DON’T FORGET ABOUT OUR SILENT AUCTION!

We have received SO MANY amazing donations this year, and you won’t want to miss out on the wonderful items up for grabs! A huge thank-you to the generous businesses and community members who have helped make this possible. ❤️

🔨 AND YES… WE’RE HAVING A LIVE AUCTION, TOO!

We’re excited to welcome Daniel Butters as our live auctioneer! Get ready for some fun, some friendly bidding, and the chance to take home something special!

❤️ EVERYTHING SUPPORTS A LIFE-SAVING CAUSE!

All proceeds from the event will go toward the purchase of a LUCAS® Chest Compression System for Water Wheel Fire & Medical District, helping provide our firefighters and paramedics with another important tool during cardiac emergencies.

🎉 This is also the FINAL Sparks Auxiliary event of the 2026 season! Let’s finish the year strong!

🌶️ Bring your appetite.
🎁 Bring your bidding spirit.
❤️ Bring your family and friends!

Help us spread the word, and we’ll see you Saturday! 🔥🌶️❤️

10/13/2026

🔥 YOUR COMMUNITY. YOUR VOICE. YOUR WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS. 🔥

Water Wheel Fire & Medical District encourages our residents to participate in the 2027 Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Community Survey through Gila County Emergency Management!

🌲 Why does your input matter?

Your local knowledge and feedback can help identify wildfire concerns, community vulnerabilities, and preparedness priorities. Your participation will help guide future wildfire mitigation, risk reduction, and preparedness efforts throughout Gila County.

Whether you live, work, or own property in our region, your voice matters! Together, we can help build safer, more wildfire-resilient communities.

📋 HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

📱 ONLINE: Scan the QR code on the appropriate attached flyer to complete the survey.

📧 EMAIL: Submit your completed survey to:
• [email protected]
• [email protected]

📠 FAX: (928) 425-9468

📅 DEADLINE: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2026

Please allow sufficient time for surveys submitted by email or fax to be received before the deadline.

📍 Please see the attached flyers for Northern Gila County and Southern Gila County survey information and submission instructions.

Every voice counts! Help shape the future of wildfire preparedness and protect the communities we call home. ❤️‍🔥

Please share this post to help spread the word!

10/09/2026

❤️💛 A HUGE THANK YOU TO DESERT MONKS BREWING! 💛❤️

Water Wheel Fire & Medical District would like to extend our deepest thanks to Desert Monks Brewing for their generous donation of custom koozies! 🚒👏

We are incredibly grateful for the support like yours that continue to show up for our firefighters, EMS personnel, and our community. Your generosity means so much to us, and we truly appreciate you thinking of our department!

Please join us in showing some love to Desert Monks Brewing for supporting your local first responders! ❤️💛

Thank you for being part of our community and supporting those who serve it! 🙌

🚒❤️

10/09/2026

💗💜 October Awareness at Water Wheel Fire & Medical 💜💗

This October, Water Wheel Fire & Medical will be switching up our uniforms in support of two important causes: Breast Cancer Awareness and Domestic Violence Awareness.

💗 Breast Cancer Awareness — Standing with survivors, honoring those we have lost, and supporting everyone currently fighting this disease.

💜 Domestic Violence Awareness — Raising awareness, supporting survivors, and reminding our community that everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and protected.

Our firefighters and medical personnel are proud to wear these colors to show our support for the individuals, families, and loved ones affected by these causes. While a change in uniform may seem small, the message behind it is powerful. Together, we can help spread awareness, encourage conversations, and show our community that we stand together for those who need us.

Please join us in supporting these important causes throughout the month of October! 💗💜

And a Special Thank you to Brandi from White Haven Engravings LLC. you did an amazing job! We are all so happy and excited to wear these amazing shirts.