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By John Hernandez
Members of the Oracle Firewise Communities Board meeting met with representatives from the U.S. Forest Service Coronado National Forest on June 10 to discuss the high risk for a wild land fire in the area due to early extreme temperatures, high winds and low rainfall.
Rogers Wright, fire service expert from the Coronado National Forest, said extreme conditions have arrived are early this year with 90 percent of fuel on the ground available to burn. “We are on the cusp of very extreme conditions,” Wright said.
The Board meeting was followed by a trip to a fuel reduction area in Oracle. The area off of Cody Loop has had brush and other potential fire fuels reduced by recent brush clearing and the use of a forestry masticator machine.
The fuel reduction area helps to prevent the spread of a wild land fire and makes it easier and safer to fight. The difference is observable, as it is right next to an area that has not been treated for fuel reduction.
The Oracle Fire Department and the Coronado National Forest service personnel continue to prepare for wildfire season and to make Oracle a fire-wise community. To find out about Oracle weather and fire conditions, visit OracleFire.org.
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