Category: kyma-local-news

Madeline Murray

MARTINEZ LAKE, Ariz. (KYMA) – Martinez Lake Fire Station is hosting the Sixth Annual Flag Raising Ceremony Monday.

The ceremony, taking place at the Fire Station at 10 a.m., is held every Memorial Day to honor those who gave their lives for our country.

The Fire Station also asked residents to bring their tattered and worn flags to their Flag Retirement Bin so they can “dispose of them properly.”

To learn more about the ceremony, click here.

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CBS News

YUMA, Ariz. (CBS, KYMA) – Motorists in southwest Arizona were treated to a massive dust devil tearing through a dirt field Sunday.

X user @saunieindiego, who captured the video, told Storyful the whirlwind was whipping up alongside Highway 95 in Yuma, at about 3:17 p.m.

“This is the biggest (widest) dust devil I have ever seen,” they wrote in the post to X.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), dust devils occur “under clear skies and light winds, when the ground can warm the air to temperatures well above the temperatures just above the ground.”

The NWS added that the phenomena occurs most frequently in May and June.

“Dust devils can form anywhere in Arizona, due to a combination of our southern latitude and increased solar heating, our dry sandy soil types, and large areas of lightly vegetated terrain,” the service said.

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – With Memorial Day coming up, the Yuma Police Department (YPD) is urging drivers to practice safe driving this weekend.

It only takes one bad decision to end up in this position, which is why YPD is urging locals to practice safe driving this weekend.

Officer Hayato Johnson with YPD said, “It’s all for safety. The normal reaction time…normal thought process isn’t right when you’re drinking and impaired so if you’re out there on the road, you’re a hazard not only to yourself but others.”

Impaired driving is one of America’s most common and deadliest crimes, but also one of the most avoidable by properly planning ahead to avoid serious consequences.

“If you’re having a few drinks probably consider a DD or Uber, Lyft. Again, we can’t stress enough that a $20 Uber ride is better than thousands of dollars in court fees if you get pulled over for DUI,” Officer Johnson said.

By planning ahead this weekend, we can all make Yuma a safer place to drive for everyone in the community.

One local urged other drivers on the road to be safe, saying, “Slow down, drive safe, and don’t drink and drive.”

As the holiday weekend continues, there’s a safe way to celebrate Memorial Day. Stay safe on the road and look out for one another.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) is investigating a crash which left two people dead.

According to a press release, the crash happened at the intersection of Gila Street and Giss Parkway before 2:30 a.m. Sunday.

YPD says a 2025 Aprilia RS motorcycle, driven by a 21-year-old man with a 17-year-old girl as a passenger, was riding westbound on Giss Parkway when it crashed into a 2020 Hyundai Venue, driven by a 64-year-old woman, which was turning north onto Gila Street.

While the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene, YPD says the passenger was taken to Onvida Health, by the Yuma Fire Department, for life-threatening injuries, where she later died.

While there were no other injuries reported, YPD says speed appears to be factor in the crash, and says the investigation is ongoing.

If anyone has information regarding the crash, call YPD at 928-783-4421, or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous.

Fatality Collision Giss PKWY and Gila Street 26-36326Download

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Abraham Retana

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – Rural Metro says they, along with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) battled a brush fire Saturday night.

According to Rural Metro’s post on Facebook, it happened in the area of Grey Water Pond at Mittry Lake at around 10:20 p.m., with Rural Metro saying crews immediately requested BLM for help.

Upon arrival, Rural Metro says crews found a “100x50ft of brush on fire and spreading,” prompting crews to immediately deploy hose lines to get ahead of the fire.

Once the on scene report was confirmed, Rural Metro says BLM sent their crews to help them, and says they requested YPG’s help as well.

Rural Metro says both BLM and YPG arrived to help them, but YPG was there for a short time “before they were cleared by command.”

Rural Metro also says, “Crews remained on scene until they were cleared by BLM” at around 4:30 a.m.

While the fire is not 100% contained, BLM it will be by the end of the day, and says the fire was caused by some teenagers firing fireworks.

Rural Metro then says if anyone is in the area, please use caution and do not drive towards the smoke, and says if anyone has respiratory issues, they are urging them to remain indoors as “smoke and ash can and will be seen in the air.”

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Fire Department battled a commercial building fire Friday night.

According to a press release, they received reports of smoke and flames coming from a commercial building, located in the area of Avenue 4E, before 8 p.m.

Upon arrival, YFD says the first fire crew found a “single-story commercial building with smoke coming from multiple sides of the structure.”

YFD says crews immediately conducted “a size-up of the building” and performed an “aggressive fire attack to try and contain the fire.”

Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department

Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department

Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department

YFD also says additional fire crews arrived and help secure a water supply, search for any fire extensions, and open portions of the building “to access fire in the attic space.”

However, YFD says the fire continued spreading throughout the building and broke through the roof, prompting crews to transition to defensive operations to continue battling the fire from outside, using aerial ladder streams and multiple hose lines.

Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department

Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department

Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department

YFD says the fire was eventually under control, and watch crew remained on scene to check for any hotspots.

While no injuries were reported, the cause of the fire is under investigation.

015 4E FireDownload

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) invited the Yuma community to participate in the Murph Challenge Saturday.

The event, which took place at the base’s Fitness Center at 8 a.m., was in honor of Lt. Michael Murphy and other fallen Veterans.

It is also a nationwide event that happens every Memorial Day, where people complete the following challenges:

One-mile run

100 pull-ups

200 push-ups

300 squats

One-mile run

Maiko Black, Marketing Sponsorship Coordinator for YPG, shared why they hosted the event saying, “We want to make sure that we spend this Memorial Day remembering our fallen soldiers. It was their ultimate sacrifice that we are here and we want to make sure that we can honor them in the best way possible.”

The event lasted until 10 a.m.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Every year, Yuma sees an increase in cases involving destroyed bird nests caused by tree trimming during nesting season.

Wildlife officials and rehabilitation experts say many of these incidents can be prevented if residents and tree trimming companies avoid cutting trees during the months when birds are actively nesting.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department says there are several ways people can identify whether a nest is active before trimming trees.

“A way to identify if a nest is active is if you see adults actively going back and forth, usually caring for little birds that don’t have feathers yet,” said Yosie Hyink, regional investigator with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “An active nest could also just be a nest that has eggs in it with birds that haven’t hatched yet.”

Officials say disturbing an active nest can lead to serious legal consequences. Most bird species in Yuma County are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, making it illegal to destroy or disturb active nests.

Wildlife rehabilitation centers in the area say they receive large numbers of displaced baby birds every year because nests are cut down during trimming projects.

“Try to have the tree trimming that you need done for your house in the winter,” said Linda Winchell, Executive Director of Vita Wildlife Rehabilitation Education Center. “Homeowners are the first line of defense because we have to count on them to make the right decisions.”

According to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the number of baby birds brought into rehabilitation centers has increased between last year and this year due to nests being destroyed.

“We’re trying to educate the public as well as these larger tree trimming companies that they should avoid cutting during these busy nesting times of the year,” Hyink said.

Officials say this year’s early heat caused nesting season to begin as early as February, and it can continue through August.

Because of that, the department is asking residents to avoid trimming trees during those months whenever possible.

“The birds really start to get active in laying eggs and building nests from February and March as late as August,” Winchell said. “If you can, do not trim trees during that time. Honestly, who wants to be out trimming trees when it’s 110 degrees outside? It’s better for the birds, but it’s better for the workers too.”

The Arizona Game and Fish Department encourages anyone who witnesses the destruction of active nests to report it through the Operation Game Thief hotline at +1 (800) 352-0700.

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Skylar Heisey

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A Yuma man has been sentenced in connection to a shooting that left one person injured.

36-year-old Lorenzo Casillas was sentenced Thursday to seven-and-a-half years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated assault.

Casillas was accused of shooting a man twice last year near Arizona Avenue and 32nd Street. The victim survived.

Casillas was originally facing multiple charges, including attempted first-degree murder, before reaching a plea agreement.

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Skylar Heisey

The details in this story may be disturbing to some viewers.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A Yuma man originally set to stand trial in the death of a two-year-old entered a guilty plea in court Thursday.

24-year-old Miguel Garcia pleaded guilty to one count of child abuse involving domestic violence. In exchange for the plea, charges of first-degree murder and concealment of a body were dismissed.

Investigators say Garcia and the child’s mother, 21-year-old Angelina Vasquez, were involved in abuse and neglect that led to the death of the child, known to many as baby Kano.

Prosecutors say the child’s body was burned in a barbecue and placed inside a backpack.

Garcia now faces a presumptive sentence of 17 years in prison, with a possible range of 10 to 24 years. 

Under the plea agreement, his sentence will be capped at 21 years, and his sentencing is scheduled for June 24.

Vasquez previously pleaded guilty in April to child abuse involving domestic violence under a separate plea agreement, and is scheduled to be sentenced May 27.

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