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Public health director briefed supervisors on early wildfire activity, local risks and community preparedness
Summary
Navajo County Public Health Services District Director reported the White Mountain Fire Coordination Group meets weekly, the county remained in Stage 1 restrictions, and officials urged residents to address fire risk in the wildland‑urban interface and backyard ignition sources.
The Navajo County Public Health Services District director updated the Board of Supervisors on early wildfire season conditions, drought and local fire‑restriction decision‑making by the White Mountain Fire Coordination Group.
The coordination group — which meets weekly and includes U.S. Forest Service, state forestry, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Apache County Emergency Management, fire chiefs and police chiefs — reviews 14 indicators including fuels, fire starts, available resources and forecasted public presence to make science‑based decisions on restrictions, the director said.
"It is a science‑based decision every week. It's not something that we take lightly," the director told the board, adding that while the area had seen some recent moisture that eased conditions slightly along I‑40, drought indicators remain and short‑term drought is expected to continue.
As of the presentation the county was at Stage 1 restrictions but officials said that could change after a coordination meeting later the same day. The director emphasized most recent fire starts in the region originated in and near structures or backyards rather than in remote forested areas, and she urged residents to exercise caution at home: clearing defensible space, careful grill use and other WUI best practices.
She also noted recent local incidents, including a structure fire caused by a charcoal grill that destroyed a house and a grassland fire that grew to over 1,000 acres in Apache County. Staff promoted community preparedness events, including a Firewise Block Party and other outreach planned for the summer.
Supervisors thanked the director for regular updates and for email briefings outside of the board room; no board action was requested.
