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Supervisor Christie asks county to produce countywide wildfire mitigation plan within 90 days
Summary
Supervisor Steve Christie asked the county to convene agencies and produce a countywide wildfire mitigation plan, citing recent large western fires and local wildfire risk. County Administrator Lesher assigned senior advisor Maddy Vasquez to coordinate and said staff will return within 90 days with a plan.
Supervisor Steve Christie urged a countywide, “all‑hands on deck” approach to wildfire mitigation at the Pima County Board of Supervisors meeting, asking the county to assemble fire, law‑enforcement and emergency‑management partners, review county property and rights‑of‑way, and deliver a mitigation plan within 90 days.
Christie framed the request with a review of recent local wildfire history and national events, saying Pima County’s vegetation, topography and development patterns make wildfire a real local risk. He asked the county to evaluate tools including expanded brush clearance, targeted controlled burns where appropriate, property‑level mitigation assistance and consideration of support for underfunded volunteer fire districts.
County Administrator Lehi confirmed staff will convene the Office of Emergency Management, regional flood control, parks, county law enforcement, community partners and the county’s recently hired senior advisor on fire issues, Maddy Vasquez, to draft the plan. Lesher said staff would return to the board within about 90 days with recommendations and an implementation timeline.
Public commenters and supervisors highlighted several related concerns: updating the county’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), helping homeowners who are losing private insurance in high‑risk subdivisions, and coordinating with state programs and grants. Speakers in the public comment period earlier in the meeting had urged stronger wildfire mitigation standards, building‑code changes, and faster revision of an outdated CWPP; staff noted Pima County Office of Emergency Management has received a state grant to support CWPP revision.
What staff said: Administrator Lesher said Pima County will marshal internal expertise — notably from emergency management and parks/flood control — and use the county’s climate and resiliency teams and external partners in forming recommendations. Lesher confirmed senior advisor Maddy Vasquez, who has wildfire planning experience, will lead coordination.
Next steps: Lesher committed to return with a proposed county mitigation plan and timeline within 90 days that will identify priorities, funding and coordination needs and potential near‑term actions such as focused vegetation management on county‑owned properties. Supervisors requested the plan address gaps in volunteer fire‑district funding and identify how county resources could leverage state and federal grants.
