Grand Canyon Times

Gov. Doug Ducey (R-Ariz.) and other state officials warned residents to stay vigilant and do their part to prevent wildfires this season.

There were more than 1,700 wildfires in 2021, accounting for more than 525,000 acres of land being burned across Arizona, according to a late March news release from the governor’s office. 

While noting that firefighters are doing all they can, Ducey warned Arizonans that everyone needs to be aware, as the risk of wildfires grows every day.

“Temperatures are creeping back up – and that means Arizona faces a heightened risk of wildfires,” Ducey said in the news release. “At the state level, we’re going to do all we can to protect Arizonans and try to mitigate any lasting damage to our communities. My heart goes out to all those whose lives have changed because of wildfires — and I want to thank the brave men and women who risk their lives to fight these fires and protect Arizona’s communities.”

Ducey noted that the state has a shortage of wildland firefighters, and said that need must be addressed. 

John Truett, state fire management officer, said to KNXV that he was not sure how many firefighters would be needed to fight blazes, only that the need is significant.

“The amount of resources that are needed now to combat the wildland fire[s] ... we just don’t have enough folks that are willing to come out and do the job that we do,” Truett said. “When I get on the western calls, every western state has severe to moderate staffing shortages due to whatever reasons are out there.”

Starting pay for firefighters in Arizona is $16 per hour, according to KNXV. Ducey said that the pay scale might have to be addressed as the state tries to add needed manpower.

“We need more wildland firefighters, that's a fact; the situation calls for it, and pay is going to be part of it,” Ducey said, as reported by KNXV.

Truett added that an increase in rainfall, while helpful, also created ideal conditions for fires in some parts of the state.

“Last summer’s monsoon season was one of the most active in a long time,” he said, according to KNXV. “However, that rainfall created an abundance of grass throughout southern Arizona, even in areas like Globe, which experienced significant fire activity last year. Now, as our temperatures begin to warm up, that grass crop is quickly drying out and any ignition source into that fuel bed can start a fast-moving wildfire.”