Pima County Administration recently presented to the Board of Supervisors its first Wildfire Mitigation Plan annual report, a plan developed in response to your expressed concerns, and a summary of the key points follows.
During the recently completed Fiscal Year 2026, the County helped to broaden community outreach, expanded invasive species treatment, started to refine mapping tools, and enhanced multi-agency coordination. These achievements illustrate growing capacity, stronger partnerships, and a more unified approach to wildfire preparedness.
Department of Transportation crews contributed to mitigation by managing vegetation along roadway corridors completing 134 miles of roadside invasive species treatment, including along roadways in the Greater Vail area. This work reduced ignition risks and supported critical road infrastructure.
The County piloted two community-oriented mitigation programs focused on reducing hazardous fuels around homes in high-risk areas in District 4. The inaugural Community Chipping program in Summerhaven, offered in December and again in May, helped residents safely dispose of vegetation removed from the immediate five-foot defensible space zone around homes. To further support fuel reduction work, roll-off dumpsters were deployed to communities in Green Valley, providing residents with accessible options for disposing of cleared brush.
We look forward to working with our Greater Vail and Corona de Tucson communities to expand these mitigation programs, including Firewise USA neighborhood certification, in the Southeast Region.
Pima County is also helping with response readiness by supporting access to shared tools and equipment for fire agencies through the Wildfire Mitigation Plan. Intergovernmental agreements are being drafted for a wildland equipment cache trailer that supplies critical tools, and the opportunity to pilot regional drone capabilities, and personal protective equipment to smaller rural districts with limited resources. This will expand operational capacity across jurisdictions to respond safely and effectively during wildfire incidents.
Financial investment mirrored the plan’s operational growth, as expenditures totaled approximately $425,000. Funding distribution remained balanced across priority goals and has set a strong foundation for continued wildfire resilience efforts in the year ahead.
The County is positioned to deepen its efforts, scale effective programs, and continue building long-term resilience across all areas of wildfire prevention, mitigation, and response. Our Southeast Region is a direct beneficiary of these efforts, and we welcome your comments as your District 4 team works to continuously improve the Wildfire Mitigation Plan.
Pima County Supervisor Steve Christy, District 4
33 N. Stone Avenue, Floor 11
Tucson, AZ 85701
520-724-8094
district4@pima.gov
