State Officials Step In to Support Firewise Community Cleanup in Flagstaff Area
Amid changes in local wildfire management, state officials have taken charge of the Firewise Community Cleanup south of Flagstaff. This initiative, which aims to mitigate wildfire risks, faced potential cancellation following the dissolution of a key fire crew.
This week, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management is active in Kachina Village, Mountainaire, Pine Del, and Munds Park. Their efforts focus on collecting pine needles and yard debris from residents, which are then transported to the Willard Springs green waste site.
For nearly twenty years, the Bear Jaw Interagency Fire and Fuels Crew from the Highlands Fire District managed the cleanup. However, they were recently disbanded due to staffing and financial challenges. “We’ve worked very closely with Bear Jaw for the last 10-plus years,” stated Tiffany Davila, a spokesperson for the state forestry department. “So we wanted to carry on this for Bear Jaw and for the community as well. This is an important project; it gets the community to do their part.”
The state may consider permanently adopting the Firewise program. Davila urges residents to consistently maintain their properties to minimize wildfire threats. “Not only is that going to help you if there is a catastrophic wildfire in the area, it’s going to lessen the impact, but it also helps our fire crews as well,” she emphasized. “It provides a safe working space for our firefighters to work from so they can further defend your property.”
The disbandment of the longtime Bear Jaw crew has left a noticeable gap in the local fire prevention landscape. As the community prepares for a potentially active fire season, both residents and former fire officials are contemplating the implications.
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