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Golden Ranch Fire, town staff outline wildfire risk assessments and resident mitigation options
Summary
Golden Ranch Fire staff described inspections, Firewise assessments, the Spirit Dog vegetation-clearing partnership along the Catalina Mountains and local firefighting capacity (about 5,000 hydrants; many green-cap hydrants supply ~1,000+ gpm). Residents asked for clearer ways to receive emergency alerts and for more HOA outreach on mitigation.
Golden Ranch Fire District and town staff used the Feb. 13 session to explain wildfire-prevention work and to field resident questions about how homeowners and HOAs can reduce risk.
Jennifer Akins, the fire marshal (Golden Ranch Fire District), said the district's fire-prevention division has about nine staff and conducts roughly 5,000 inspections a year, including voluntary wildfire risk assessments and Firewise recommendations to property owners. She described a state-run "Spirit Dog" vegetation-clearing project in the Catalina Mountains that the district is assisting with.
A district official explained the local advantage compared with high-profile California fires: Oro Valley has relatively flat terrain in populated areas, extensive underground utilities, widespread tile roofs and an ample supply of hydrants. The staff said the district has about 5,000 hydrants across its service area, many painted green to indicate flows of at least 1,000 gallons per minute, and that minimum residential fire flow requirements are in that range.
Residents asked what the town and fire district can do to improve public awareness and response. Officials said they amplify state "Ready, Set, Go" messaging and use CodeRED and reverse-911 geographic alerts; if an evacuation is imminent, officers will conduct door-to-door checks and OVPD will assist under an incident-command structure.
The district recommended neighborhood- and HOA-level Firewise programs as effective mitigation, and said inspectors will meet with HOAs that request presentations. Staff promised to distribute Firewise materials and to coordinate outreach with HOAs.
No new funding or formal policy changes were adopted at the meeting.
