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Aravaipa Firewise Board Members include: Frank Darvila, Betty Wagner, Dolly Giorsetti, Richard Choate, Mike Giorsetti, Tom Wagner, Raimie Manch, Megan Giorsetti and Jazmyne Giorsetti. The photo was taken at the Wagner’s home.
Submitted
Copper Area News
The nation’s federal and state land management agencies and local fire departments have joined together to empower homeowners with knowledge and tools to protect their homes through the National Firewise Communities Program. Firewise Communities is designed to encourage and educate communities on developing local solutions for wildfire safety. The plan involves firefighters, homeowners, community leaders, planners developers, and others coming together to coordinate efforts to design, build, and maintain homes and properties so they are compatible with nature as wildland fires are a natural process.
Aravaipa Canyon has now become a Firewise Community. The idea started with Raimie Manch, vice president of the Aravaipa Property Owners Association and now Aravaipa Canyon Firewise Director. She contacted all of her neighbors and found that they were interested in Firewise. The Aravaipa Property Owners Association contacted Chris Jones, Agriculture and Natural Resource agent for the Gila County Cooperative Extension in Globe in June 2013. “Chris pointed me in the right directions, telling me what I needed to know,” said Manch. He came out to Aravaipa Canyon and held an informational meeting with interested residents of the canyon. Jones explained the Firewise program to those in attendance. “The primary goal for Firewise landscaping is fuel reduction, limiting the level of flammable vegetation and materials surrounding the home and increasing the moisture content of the remaining vegetation,” said Jones.
At the spring homeowners meeting in 2014, Faith Berry, Firewise Region I facilitator and Carrie Dennett, Arizona State Firewise liaison provided information on how to become a Firewise community and answered questions. The Aravaipa Canyon East area is now part of the Dudleyville Rural Fire Rescue and Medical District.
A water map has been developed displaying locations of water sources that can be accessed by firefighting helicopters. Staging areas and evacuation routes have also been proposed. The maps have been given to fire chiefs of the surrounding communities of Dudleyville, Mammoth, Kearny, Hayden and San Manuel. John Stanford, fire chief of the San Manuel Fire Department helped her set up the staging and evacuation sites. They are also collaborating with the Dudleyville Fire Department. Manch says that, “The Aravaipa Community is looking forward to working with the Oracle Firewise Community to promote fire prevention.”
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
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