Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey meets with wildfire officials
Apr 30, 2015, 12:01 PM | Updated: 12:18 pm
PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey expressed his confidence Thursday in the state’s plans to meet wildfire season needs.
Although the intensity, size and scope of these fires “has gotten larger in the past several years. I think we’ve got a good plan moving forward,” he said.
Receiving a pre-wildfire season briefing with State Forester Jeff Whitney & DEMA Director Wendy Smith Reeve pic.twitter.com/0s7ofKazMR
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) April 30, 2015
Ducey met with fire and emergency services officials in the morning at Papago Park Military Reservation.
New State Forester Jeff Whitney said fire conditions were similar to the 2005 Cave Creek Complex fire that tore through 250,000 acres.
Whitney was a Type 1 Incident Team Commander back then and worked the blaze.
“The alignment of conditions very similar to 1995 when the Rio Fire burned near Scottsdale and the 2005 Cave Creek Complex,” he said.
The good news is that we’re aware of the conditions and we’re prepared.”
About 75 percent of Arizona is in moderate to high fire danger. Arizona has had 300 fires this year, totaling about 1,000 acres.
Nine of Arizona’s 10 largest fires on record have happened since 2002.
