Gov. Hobbs Warns of an “Intense” Fire Season Ahead for Arizona

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs warned on Monday that the state is bracing for an “intense” fire season due to an unusually dry winter.

John Truett, the state’s fire management officer, emphasized that the impact of dry conditions is already evident.

Last week, 18 separate fires broke out along a 20-mile stretch of State Route 79 near Oracle Junction. Truett identified the cause as someone towing a trailer whose chains sparked against the road.

“This indicates a significantly increased probability of ignition,” Truett stated.

Dry brush and grass elevate the risk of wildfires, compelling the governor to highlight the importance of awareness in fire prevention.

“Most fires are human-caused, but not maliciously,” Hobbs noted.

She added that the threats extend beyond chains; car catalytic converters can exceed temperatures of 500 degrees and ignite dry grass when vehicles drive over.

Truett emphasized that controlling the number of fires hinges on effective public education.

He expressed concern over the catastrophic wildfires in California earlier this year that destroyed over 11,000 homes. Although conditions differ, Truett warned that similar destruction could occur in Arizona.

“We have vegetation growing very close to communities,” he said, addressing the risk posed by adjacent tract homes.

“Once a fire establishes itself among these homes, driven by the wind, it becomes increasingly dangerous,” he added.

Truett assured residents that his agency is proactive rather than reactive in fire management.

“We have a wildfire mitigation plan,” he explained, aiming to identify high-risk areas and implement fuel reduction strategies to diminish combustible materials.

This approach focuses on restoring forests and vegetation to their natural fire regimes, according to Truett.

Since July, approximately 23,000 acres of fire-risk land have undergone treatment, with plans to increase that number to 30,000 by the end of June, as stated by Hobbs.

Tom Torres, the state forester, provided an update, stating that federal agencies have not requested any grant funds back, a positive note for local fire management.

He also mentioned that the agency is close to being fully staffed ahead of the fire season.

However, concerns remain regarding resource allocation.

“National resources are stretched thin,” Torres remarked. “We need to prioritize our staffing to ensure we can manage our responsibilities here at home.”