Author: KYMA

Lauren Duffel

UPDATE: The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) has issued a press release regarding the apartment fire on Seventh Avenue.

YFD says they responded to the area of Seventh Avenue and 24th Street at around 2 p.m. Friday, where they found a two-story apartment building with heavy smoke and flames showing.

YFD says, “Initial firefighting efforts began outside the building as crews worked to control the fire and assess conditions” while a crew was sent inside to evaluate conditions and found the second floor of the building structurally compromised, “making it unsafe for interior operations.”

Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department

Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department

Soon after, YFD says crews continued battling the fire from the outside in order to protect “nearby units and limit further damage.”

The fire was eventually extinguished after firefighters worked for several hours to bring the fire under control, but YFD says, “Crews remained on scene to monitor the building.”

YFD says while there were no civilian injuries reported, one firefighter was treated on scene for overexertion, but the firefighter declined to be taken to the hospital and was sent home as a precaution.

Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department

In addition, a total to 12 residents, according to YFD, were displaced, with the American Red Cross being called in to help them.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A residential building caught fire in Yuma.

Our reporter on scene said it was two-story home that rented out rooms.

The fire spread in the main house and to a smaller building on the side.

Animal control was also on scene

We’ll update this story as soon as we receive more information.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Friday marks day two of the 33rd Annual Midnight at the Oasis event in Yuma.

It’s been around in yuma for over three decades and keeps bringing locals and tourists together.

They had their “Cruise to Yuma” Parade of vintage vehicles followed by a concert with live music for the community to enjoy Friday night.

The fun continues all weekend long as they’ll have gates open at 9 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. Saturday with concerts all day long.

On Sunday, they will announce the winners and have their car raffle drawing, along with unveiling the card that will be raffled off for next year’s Midnight at the Oasis.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals came together to help fundraise for children in the hospital.

Westwind RV and Golf Resort raised over $3,400 for the Shriners Hospitals for Children. They raised money with their annual dances and a golf outing where over 70 golfers came out to support.

They’ve been doing these annual donations to Shriners for over a decade.

“It’s awesome to be able to know we can contribute to the Shriners as the money does go to help out all the children and some of them that don’t have enough funds to be able to do something for themselves, so it’s awesome, and we really appreciate being able to do this,” said Dan Anderson with Westwind RV and Golf Resort.

They will have another golf outing fundraiser next February.

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Jessamyn Dodd

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA) – Major renovations and remodeling continue on the Brawley Playhouse Theater in Imperial Valley as they ramp up fundraising efforts, including selling tee-shirts, beef jerky, and coffee, outside of the theater during the day.

The project is being led by the Brawley Community Foundation. The historic theater closed in 1979, following an earthquake. It remained vacant until 2018.

Over $1 million has already been invested in the renovation project since 2021, with repairs to the structure, balcony, and roof underway.

Ryan Brandt, a film directory, who refers to himself as a “tenant” of the theater shared how he became involved in the project.

“The roof was coming down. I owned the theater for like a couple months. Glen Huber gave it to me and I gave it to the Brawley Community Foundation. I didn’t want someone to get hurt and stuff so. The Brawley Community Foundation took it on and they gutted out the main roof,” Brandt said.

Despite the ongoing construction, the theater plans to host more community events to bolster their fundraising efforts. They opened up the theater to a scary movie screening and haunted house for Halloween 2025.

“We’re trying to do it on the holidays. So definitely um Christmas and Halloween we’re doing. We might do a Spring one, maybe for Easter. We’re trying to think about the holidays to get, to get something going,” Brandt explained.

The theater has plans to build a snack bar, upgrade the bathrooms to be ADA compliant, and install new seating.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A new candidate is running for a senate seat currently held by a local senator. Democratic candidate Laura Huber is running for the Arizona State Senate in Legislative District 25.

It’s the same seat Republican incumbent Senator Tim Dunn currently holds. Arizona State Senator Dunn shares with us that he plans on running for re-election.

The Yuma lawmaker says he plans on filing his signatures next week. He currently holds a seat in the senate for Arizona’s 25th legislative district.

Laura Huber has experience as a mental health counselor for over a decade, overseeing crisis mobile teams, and homeless outreach. She says this is an opportunity to help people on a larger level.

“I have really seen and been concerned, as many people are, what’s happening in our federal government presently, and I wanted to just do my part to hopefully shift things back into a place where we’re making choices that help the most people instead of just focusing more on the top 1%,” said Huber.

She says her three areas of focus are affordability, healthcare, and education. She also wants to tackle water issues.

“The Colorado River agreement is going to be something that needs to be addressed, especially in this coming year, and we have to make sure that we have enough water to support both our agriculture, especially in the Yuma area and the ongoing spread that’s our big Phoenix metro,” said Huber.

She has five generations of farmers and ranchers on both sides of her family. She says she understands how important agriculture is to Yuma.

“I think I also understand how absolutely essential farmers are and how essential water is to making sure that they’re able to do their jobs,” said Huber.

She has submitted all of the signatures she needs to be on the ballot. The Primary Election is on July 21 and the general election is in November.

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Abraham Retana

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) is on scene after a school bus crashed into a vehicle Wednesday.

According to YFD, the crash happened in the area of Pacific Avenue and 32nd Street after the bus hit an SUV from behind.

YFD says 40 kids were on the bus at the time of the crash.

“We arrived on the scene to find a bus with 40 or [more] kids, thankfully no one was injured, everyone seems to be okay…some minor complaints. We are transferring all the kids from one bus onto another bus, but thankfully everyone is okay,” said Capt. David Padilla with YFD.

YFD also says both the bus and the SUV were taken off the street, and said all traffic lanes on Pacific Avenue and 32nd Street are now open.

The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation.

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Jessamyn Dodd

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – A new program called S.T.E.P., which stands for Skills, Training, and Entrepreneurial Pathways, launched in Imperial County.

The program is the brain child of Access To Thrive’s CEO Ashley Contreras. She said the idea came to her following her car accident, which left her in a wheelchair.

“The inspiration of STEP came from my own experience. I was a business owner before my car accident before becoming disabled. And after that happened, I understood that the disability was not the barrier,” Contreras explained in an interview with KYMA.

She said often times, people with disabilities, whether physical or mental, don’t always fit into a typical nine-to-five employment model.

The 12-week free course offers everything from training to help with licensing fees.

With just 20 spots open for the program, Contreras and her team received dozens of applications, which they are now reviewing.

“We’re still receiving applications. The program is officially going to launch on April 7th,” Contreras said.

To apply, click here.

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Jessamyn Dodd

HOLTVILLE, Calif. (KYMA) – A Holtville High School student is being recognized for his achievements in academics and agriculture.

17-year-old Kyle Self has been named as a candidate for the U.S. Presidential Scholarship Award, a national program created to recognize high school seniors.

It was originally designed to award academic excellence, but has expanded to the fields of arts, agriculture and career technology.

Self is one of five nominees from the state of California. He credits his support system for inspiring him.

“When I think about this award, I don’t really think about myself. I think about all the people who have who have played such monumental roles of making me into the person I am today,” Self shared. “First among them is of course my parents and my family, my grandparents. But I also think, because it is an educational award, all of the different teachers.”

Self has been gaining the praises of his peers and teachers alike, with Agriculture Studies teacher Lindsay Cox saying she believes Self can do anything he puts his mind to.

“We’re all incredibly proud of him for being nominated for this program. I think that it’s a really great accomplishment and testament to the kind of human that he is and the kind of student that he is that he’s recognized for something at this level,” Cox said.

Self revealed that he originally had plans to become an Agriculture Studies teacher, although recently he has felt the pull towards studying to become a pastor.

Now, a panel of educators appointed by the president will review all of the candidates and narrow down the finalists this spring. The recipients of the scholarship will be announced this summer.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Spencer’s announced they are holding an grand opening ceremony for their store in Yuma next weekend.

The grand opening is taking place Saturday, March 14 at Yuma Palms, located at 1309 Yuma Palms Parkway, Suites E-I, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

During the grand opening, the first 100 guests will receive $10 gift cards, sweet treats, freebies, giveaways and more.

According to Spencer’s, it was founded in 1947 as a mail-order catalog in Pennsylvania, opened its first brick-and-mortar store in 1963, and has since opened 680 locations across the country as well as having an online presence.

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