Some #FountainHills residents flipped their lids recently with the story announcing the town’s social media request of residents to manage weeds on their properties, even launching into tirades about “big government’s” “money-making” initiative. The best way to silence conspiracy-theory ignorance is to go to the source for facts, and in this case, why property maintenance is important.
“Winter rains mean there is plenty of vegetation growing around the desert, and as the sun heats things up, the plants will dry out and become the flash fuels for wildfire in the summer season.
“Communities such as #FountainHills, the Verdes and North Scottsdale have a significant wildland urban interface, which brings fire hazards to the doorstep.
“Tonto National Forest provides much of the ‘wildland’ in the equation and officials have a close eye on conditions this year, according to Nick Castro, Fire Management officer at Tonto National Forest, Cave Creek Ranger District.
“’The globe chamomile does present us with some different challenges. In recent years, we have seen an increase in the amount of globe chamomile on the forest, specifically in the lower desert areas,’ Castro said in an email to The Times Independent. ‘This invasive species does add additional fine fuel loading to other invasive grasses, such as red brome. The result can be an increase in fire behavior.’
“Castro noted that the Ranger District has worked closely with #Firewise coordinators in the Verde Communities to assist in reducing fuels. A prescribed burn was recently scheduled on forest land adjacent to Rio Verde.
“In Fountain Hills there have been recent actions to help address the danger of wildfire. The Town Council has passed an ordinance directed at creating safe space around construction sites in desert areas. It allows for greater clearance within designated preservation zones around building sites.
“Also, the town’s code enforcement division is stepping up enforcement of weed control on residential and commercial lots and developed properties.
“The code officer will notify the property owner or tenant of violations and will assist with a solution. The property owner or tenant will be given a reasonable amount of time to correct the violation(s), according to a town release. Code enforcement can be reached at 480-816-5193.
“Fountain Hills Fire Department is also prepared to assist residents with advice on creating defensible space to protect their property and homes from wildfire. The defensible space is a 30-foot buffer around a structure where fuel has been reduced to slow the spread of an approaching fire toward the structure. This gives firefighters more opportunity to extinguish or control a fire before it reaches the structure.
“Invasive plants or grasses that grow during winter rains, dead brush and branches that create flash and ladder fuel for a fire should be removed within the buffer zone. Also, wood should not be piled adjacent to a structure, overhanging trees should be trimmed or removed and gutters cleaned. Details for creating defensible space can be found at the National Fire Protection Association Firewise website.
“Fire Department personnel will do a property inspection to provide homeowners with advice and specific suggestions for creating a defensible space. Residents can call the fire department non-emergency line to arrange an inspection at 480-816-5114.
“According to Castro, forest officials are keeping a close watch on conditions and talking with local partners, but there are no fire restrictions in place currently on Tonto National Forest.”