By Steve Christy
For weeks now, all of us have seen the raging fires and smelled the acrid smoke devastating our beautiful Santa Catalina Mountains, threatening Mount Lemmon, village of Summerhaven and other mountain top hamlets. It’s heartbreaking and frightening to witness this destruction. It is also amazing to reflect that this conflagration started originally by a bolt of lightning way over, past and below Pusch Ridge, and relentlessly moved up, then north and east towards our Redington area.
As of press time, here are some astounding facts. Almost 1,000 fire fighters have been battling the Bighorn Fire. Seven “hot shot” crews are deployed. More than 113 different pieces of firefighting equipment are being used to battle 80,000+ acres burned, including helicopters, bulldozers, and 10 water tenders. So far, the cost of fighting the blaze is more than $25 Million, with 33% of the fire contained. The prognosis is that this fire will continue to burn until it runs out of fuel or until we get our heavy summer rains.
We have numerous agencies to thank and acknowledge their herculean efforts. To me, it has been like watching a ballet and military battle, as the fire fighters conduct their coordinated and highly developed plans.
We must thank the US Forest Service and Dept. of Agriculture for their heroic efforts to keep the fire out of Summerhaven and Willow Canyon, to preserve the University of Arizona Sky Center, and the communications and observatory assets on Radio Ridge and Mount Bigelow.
Additional thanks are due to the 35 firefighting agencies (including Green Valley and Sonoita) that are assisting with the efforts.
We must acknowledge the Pima County personnel that have aided our federal and state partners: the Sheriff’s Department and Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers, the Office of Emergency Management, and the Dept. of Transportation.
The Mount Lemmon Fire Department has been working around the clock with partner agencies as hot spots are identified in the village by infrared flights over the area. More than 30 fire engines are patrolling and hand crews are putting out spot fires as they pop up. Fortunately, no structures have been lost and injuries sustained by firefighters have been minimal.
The efforts of the Mount Lemmon FireWise Team are to be commended. The clearing of brush from around properties in Summerhaven and Willow Canyon is always an important precaution, and it was made especially challenging this year due to COVID-19.
Truly, there are no words adequate to express our appreciation. Thank you, all.
As our economy begins to reopen, it is essential that all of us support our local businesses. I know we have all heard this plea, but now the fear I’m hearing from property owners and commercial real estate brokers is not necessarily tenants not making rent or lease payments, but staying in and keeping their businesses open at all.
Many owners of numerous establishments are seriously contemplating giving up. This would be a tragedy and an economic disaster.
If you are healthy and able, I encourage you to frequent as many Vail and Corona de Tucson businesses as you can. If they leave now, there very probably will be no one to take their place. As a former landlord, I know there is nothing worse than dealing with an empty piece of property.
Finally, we have some positive news about our roads – an issue I will keep on the County’s front burner. Since taking office, almost 70 miles of our roads in District 4 have been repaired, with 32 of those road miles in our own Vail/Corona de Tucson area. Soon, the Board of Supervisors will be considering the road repair plan for the next fiscal year. The Dept. of Transportation has prioritized about 11 miles of roadways in the Southeast Region for repair. Good roads lead to good things.
So let’s thank and pray for our firefighters, for rain, for an end to the pandemic, and for our local business owners. Let’s be sensitive and responsible around our vulnerable at-risk communities and take personal responsibility for our community’s health. That’s a lot of prayers, and they are needed!
