Pinal County officials outline wildfire readiness, animal shelter plans and cleanup tools

Supervisor Surtees opened a county work session on wildfire risk by saying Pinal County needed a countywide discussion after major fires elsewhere and social-media-fueled public concern. The supervisors heard from the county Emergency Manager, local fire chiefs, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM), county Animal Care and Control and several mayors on readiness and gaps in preparedness.

County Emergency Manager Corey Redden said Pinal County’s emergency responders work “very frequently throughout the year” and described the county as “unsiloed,” with local fire districts, state forestry and law enforcement coordinating on planning, outreach and suppression. He invited fire professionals to speak first and said the county would gather unanswered questions and return with follow-up information.

The Superstition Fire Medical District chief, John Whitney, called Firewise “the gold standard of community wildfire preparedness and protection,” and urged residents to work through HOAs or their local fire district to obtain neighborhood assessments and guidance on defensible space. Whitney said individual homeowners can call their local fire department for site reviews and best-practice recommendations.

Tom Torres, director of the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, said the state has increased investments and coordinated meetings with insurers through a Resiliency and Mitigation Council. Torres told the…