County outlines prescribed burn plan and new 40,000‑gallon water tanks to boost fire response

Emergency Services Director Arron Griewahn presented a phased prescribed-burn plan for a large green-waste pile on Rio Felix Road, emphasizing that the burn schedule would depend on favorable weather and sufficient staffing and that piles would be broken into smaller segments to ensure complete extinguishment in a single shift. Griewahn said the mop-up strategy and a smoke management plan aim to prevent overnight smoldering and reduce neighborhood impacts; he estimated "the first burn was expected within the next four weeks," while full completion of the overall project could extend through the end of the calendar year.

Ross Coleman and Griewahn also described plans to install three new 40,000‑gallon strategic water tanks with hydrants at the Copper Ridge, Picacho and Nogal fire stations to improve ISO scores in areas with limited water access, which can lower residents' insurance premiums and strengthen local firefighting capacity. Coleman confirmed the systems were slated for installation this year and emphasized their importance during upcoming ISO reviews.