Author: KYMA

Karina Bazarte

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The first group of El Centro firefighters are back after 14 days of fighting two fires in California.

The El Centro Fire Department (ECFD) says 16 firefighters returned home Sunday after assisting with battling the Gold Fire in San Bernardino County and the Gifford Fire in San Luis Obispo County.

ECFD says it was a tough journey, but they’re glad they were able to help.

“Usually the main difference in a fire when you talk about going from the difference between one assignment to another. You’re assignment are pretty much going to be the same. If you’re on a type six, you’re going to have the same type of work. If you’re on one fire or the other one, the main difference is the terrain you’re going on and fuel types.”

Eduardo Ainza, Battalion Chief, El Centro Fire Department

As of Tuesday, the Gold Fire is currently 85% contained and has burned 1,036 acres. At the same time, the Gifford Fire is 95% contained and has burned 131,589 acres.

The rest of the fire task force returned home Monday evening.

To keep up-to-date on the Gold Fire, click here. To keep up-to-date on the Gifford Fire, click here.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Onvida Health says it saw a big leap in ratings online.

The hospital has gone from 2.4 stars to a four-star rating on Google. They say this is a milestone achievement.

Dr. Robert Trenschel, President and CEO of Onvida Health, talked about what the rating means to the hospital.

“That’s really exciting for us to see because we take all the feedback, that our patients and our visitors that come to our campus give us, and we take it all to heart, and we make changes that we need to make,” Dr. Trenschel explained.

Onvida Health would like to shout out their staff and also the Yuma community for bringing them to where they are today. 

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Madeline Murray

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – During the Board of Supervisors meeting, they approved for consideration the renewal CrowdStrike Falcon, which has provided Yuma County with advanced threat detection, response, and protection against cyberattacks since 2021.

The renewal cost is $160,108.73, with coverage through August 6, 2026. 

The Yuma County Board of Supervisors approved to renew software that uses artificial intelligence to neutralise cyber-threats.

The security needs of Yuma County are focused on prevention, and renewing this new software will help keep online records safe.

Jonathan Lines, Vice Chairman of the Yuma County Board of Supervisors, said, “It’s a threat intelligence based platform that prioritizes, and is able to act swiftly and respond to every single threat almost, in a ground zero setting, immediately as it’s detected.”

The platform Crowdstrike Falcon prioritizes prevention and rapid response to threats.

Lines says it’s important to safeguard the entire system, which includes the Recorder’s Office, elections, and the Assessor’s Office.

“I think it was july last year, there was a breach, but 97% of the effected computers or sensors were back online, I believe, in less than a week,” says Lines.

Lines says this software detects any direct threats, but they still ask everyone to be cautious online explaining, “We still ask people not to click on suspicious links, and all of that, and that is still a threat.”

We also asked the community how they prevent cyber hacks online.

One local, Amanda Sandoval, says in order to prevent online cyber attack, they avoid anything suspicious.

“Don’t open any links. If you see any emails, don’t click on them…you have to read the top of the bar first, if you don’t read that, then it’s easy,” Sandoval expressed.

Once the final details of the budget for the software are approved, they can deploy it.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Yuma School District One says James B. Rolle Elementary School will be releasing students Tuesday.

District One says they’re releasing them as early as 1:00 p.m. due to a power outage near the school, and says Arizona Public Service is working to restore power.

They also say parents have been notified and are “encouraged to check their school messages for details on early dismissal.”

District One says they will continue to monitor the outage and will keep students and families up-to-date about school Wednesday.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Yuma School District One says their students outperformed the Arizona state average on the 2025 Multi-State Alternative Assessment (MSAA) for students with special needs.

According to a press release obtained by KYMA, the MSAA is the state’s “annual assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities,” providing them “the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of grade-level standards.”

Courtesy: Yuma School District One

Courtesy: Yuma School District One

Courtesy: Yuma School District One

District One says MSAA administered the assessment to third through eighth grade students in English and math, and fifth and eighth grade students in science.

In addition, District One said, “Each grade level met or exceeded the state’s average scale score for each subject,” and has “a higher percentage of ESS students scored ‘proficient’ or ‘highly Proficient,’ compared to the state average.”

Courtesy: Yuma School District One

Courtesy: Yuma School District One

“The results of standardized assessments are one way our students demonstrate success,” stated Matthew Kaste, Director of Exceptional Student Services. “Their achievement also reflects the impact of our highly qualified team of teachers, paraprofessionals and support staff who are dedicated to providing personalized instruction, high quality learning environments, and specialized programs that help students excel.”

To learn more about this, read the press release below.

ESS Outperforms AZ StateDownload

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) is searching for a vehicle involved in a hit and run.

According to a post on Facebook, it happened in the area of S. 21st Avenue on August 6 at around 2:30 a.m.

YPD says the vehicle, a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, dark in color, was driving southbound on 21st Avenue when it crashed into a residential fence.

After it sustained heavy front-end damage, the Malibu was then seen driving away going westbound on Eighth Street.

Courtesy: Yuma Police Department

If anyone has any information regarding the vehicle or the driver, call YPD at (928) 783-4421, or 78-CRIME at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous.

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Karina Bazarte

NILAND, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A mobile home was completely destroyed after it caught on fire in Niland Sunday night.

The Imperial County Fire Department (ICFD) says no one was in or near the mobile home at the time of the fire.

“It took about an hour for units to clear the scene but we had initial knocked out with in the 15 minutes of the call,” said Cedric Ceseña with ICFD.

Fire crews say no one was on the property Sunday night when the fire started, but it looks like the place was still being used.

ICFD says one of the challenges was the lack of water in the area.

“What we work is making sure we have the equipment to bring water into these emergencies, so we have water tenders or water tanks that [brings] 2,500 gallons of water at a time in order for us to fight the fire. For example, this fire more less it took about 1,300 gallons of water to put out,” said Ceseña.

Firefighters says it’s difficult to know where the fire started or how, but it’s under investigation.

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Karina Bazarte

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A toddler in El Centro dies after being left inside a hot car Monday, according to the El Centro Police Department (ECPD).

According to a press release, officers responded to the area of Woodward Avenue and N. Seventh Street at around 5:30 p.m. after receiving reports of an unresponsive toddler.

Upon arrival, ECPD says officers performed lifesaving measures, and the child was taken to El Centro Regional Medical Center.

However, ECPD said despite efforts by officers and medical personnel, the child later died at the hospital.

ECPD says the child had been left alone inside a vehicle “for an extended period of time,” and the child’s father, a 37-year-old man from El Centro, was arrested for “various charges related to the child’s death.”

The investigation remains ongoing. If anyone has any information regarding the case, call (760) 352-2111, visit ECPD headquarters in person, or reach out to their social media platforms.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD) continues its trend of decreasing their dropout rate each year by achieving a 1.13% rate.

The district is made up of seven schools, and they have a combined dropout rate of just over one percent.

This year, five schools saw rates of under 1%. Meanwhile, the state’s average is around 4.5%.

Landon Haromeny, a local senior at Cibola High School student, shares why it’s important to stay in school.

“It’s your future. I don’t know why you would want to jeopardize yourself, or put yourself in that situation and drop out when you can go here for four years, get an education and pursue further excellence,” Haromey says.

Yescina Cuming, a droupout rate prevention specialist for Cibola High School, shares how everyone has contributed to make this happen.

“It really takes the entire community. It’s teachers, parents, the students themselves, we also partner with juvenile court and other agencies outside of the Yuma Union High School District,” Cuming said.

Harmoney also shares what kind opportunities schools can provide.

“Obviously kids don’t want to do it, they want to stay home, they just want to be lazy but staying school is one of the most important things, and you build personal relationships, you build grades, you build everything here at school and so it’s very important to stay here,” he says.

Meanwhile, Cuming shares how she does her best to ensure a student’s success.

“Building relationships and having ongoing communication, this includes with students and parents or guardians alike, it’s very important for them to realize that attendance is very important for their student’s academic success,” she said.

This is the second year in a row where the district has maintained its dropout rate of less than two percent.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A resource fair is happening in Yuma to support Veterans and active-duty service members by connecting them with essential services and local programs.

The event is part of the Be Connected Initiative hosted by the Arizona Coalition for Military Families, a statewide effort focused on building a strong network of support for military members, Veterans, and their families.

Attendees will receive training, tools, and continued support to assist others in need.

The event takes place this Friday at the Arizona Department of Economic Security on East Palo Verde Street in Yuma.

It runs from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and it’s free to attend. To register, click here.

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