One Year Later: Propane Fire Survivors Demand Justice and Answers

Drivers affected by the propane tank fire are seeking answers and accountability.

PHOENIX — Stephanie Perez has been haunted by the events of July 20, 2023. “I’m just so ready to put this behind me and get this over with,” she said.

Perez was returning to Phoenix from Miami when she received an alarming email from Sundance Airport Parking. Her car had been parked near the intersection of 40th and Washington streets, close to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

The email stated, “Unfortunately, there are many, many vehicles that are damaged beyond repair or sustained minor to major damage from the fire.” A four-alarm blaze, fueled by propane tanks from a nearby business, had erupted at the parking lot during one of Phoenix’s hottest periods in history.

“As soon as I saw that picture, I knew my car was gone,” Perez lamented. Her vehicle was among many incinerated in the fire that originated from Bill’s Propane Service, operated by Canyon State Propane, and spread to Sundance Airport Parking.

Seeing the charred remains firsthand left Perez in disbelief. “My car was paid off. I used it for work and personal life,” she explained. She lacked comprehensive insurance and had valuables inside the car. “In all, the experience has cost me $50,000,” she added.

Perez is not alone in seeking recovery. She, along with other victims, has formed a Facebook group to find answers. “We haven’t heard from the government. Nobody,” she voiced their collective frustration.

A year has passed, the remnants of the fire have been cleared, yet questions linger on how it happened and who holds responsibility. Phoenix Fire is finalizing an 87-page report to determine the cause.

Accountability spans multiple layers. The federal government owns the property through the Bureau of Reclamation, managed by energy provider SRP. Sundance Parking Lot and Bill’s Propane Service were tenants.

Perez and the other victims are working with a lawyer to pursue legal action. “I’m crossing my fingers to get a solution,” Perez said. “We’re planning as a big group to take action because it’s been a year and we haven’t seen anything,” she added.

12News reached out to Canyon State Propane and Sundance Airport Parking for comments but has yet to receive a response.

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