Letter from Gregory Roybal, PIO, State Emergency Operations Center, Arizona Dept. of Emergency & Military Affairs

Fed, State, Local Agencies Band Together to Fight Arizona Fires

PHOENIX— The wildfires currently ravaging eastern and southeastern Arizona are among the largest and most destructive our state has ever experienced. The response from federal, state and local authorities, as well as volunteers and private organizations, is massive. This is the kind of concerted group effort that is absolutely imperative to a timely response and recovery.

"Responding to a large fire – let alone three at the same time – can fatigue responders, deplete local resources and leave survivors questioning how in the world they’ll ever recover," said Lou Trammell, Director of the Arizona Division of Emergency Management (ADEM). "It is in these situations that all of our pre-planning efforts are tested and Arizonans show terrific compassion and generosity."

Federal, tribal, state, county and local resources are battling three large fires in Arizona – the Wallow, Horseshoe Two and Monument fires – with the singular goal of protecting life and property. Emergency responders, local governments and evacuees are finding that they have friends in their fight.

Impacted political subdivisions such as counties, cities, towns, and fire districts are working together to backfill limited resources through the Arizona Mutual Aid Compact (AZMAC). AZMAC allows signatories to request resources and assistance from participating members in times of emergency. The State Forestry Division is supplementing firefighting resources with incident management teams, water "tenders" and trucks, hand and hotshot crews and air assets on-loan through the Resource Ordering and Status System.

"Most of Arizona is fighting the Wallow, Horseshoe Two and Monument fires in one way or another," Trammell said. "Tribal, state and local agencies are sharing resources, non-government organizations are sheltering and feeding evacuees, and Arizonans from all over want to donate. Everyone is looking for a way to contribute."

ADEM and its partners have received countless offers of goods, services and monetary donations. Donations have been so plentiful that the current needs of responders have been surpassed. As unmet needs are identified in the days and weeks ahead, they will be posted to www.AzEIN.gov.

Visit the Arizona Emergency Information Network (AzEIN) website at http://www.AzEIN.gov/ for real-time emergency updates, preparedness and hazard information, and multimedia resources.