Cave Creek receives fire/EMS quarterly briefing; town highlights brush-disposal events and water-resources plans

Daisy Mountain and town staff briefed the Cave Creek Town Council on wildfire preparedness and the second-quarter fire and EMS report at the March 3 meeting.

Brian, presenting the quarterly statistics, said the town benefits from automatic-aid relationships and noted a significant portion of calls are 'special operations'—largely hiker rescues in Spur Cross and reported gas leaks. He described a recent Spur Cross rescue where Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office air assets made initial contact and then transferred the patient to town paramedics at a designated landing zone.

Town Manager Grady Miller and fire staff emphasized resident preparedness and announced free residential brush-and-weed disposal events at the Water Ranch on March 21 and April 18 from 8 a.m. to noon; staff will provide a chipper and rolloff containers. Miller said those events and ongoing hydrant testing are intended to reduce fuel loads and improve response capability.

Officials also described recent operational improvements: the opening of Station 144, local water-tender capacity for areas with few hydrants, and a planned Phoenix interconnect reservoir (about 1 million gallons) to increase firefighting water supply. Brian noted Daisy Mountain received an Arizona Department of Health Services premier-level recognition for EMS data and performance reporting during the period covered.

Council members asked about hydrant availability in Desert Hills and how crews deploy water; the presenters said engines carry supply and that the town maintains a protocol to use hydrants when within supply range or operate as a water‑tender operation when hydrants are not available.

The briefing ended with staff reassurance that the town is maintaining outreach (CodeRED geocoded alerts, social media) and encouraging residents and homeowner associations to maintain defensible space and pursue Firewise certification where appropriate.