Wildfire is a fact of life in Yavapai County and we all have a role to play in reducing wildfire risk, making neighborhoods safer and protecting homes. Learn what you can do to be prepared before the flames arrive.
Common questions
What is Firewise? Firewise is the challenge of communities that live in fire prone areas. The goal is to create conditions that reduce the damage of wildfires and the damages they present. It is a multi-agency program that encourages the development of defensible and survivable spaces for the prevention of wildfires.
What is defensible space? Defensible Space is the area between a structure and wildfires. This can include vegetation that has been modified. This is an important concept to protect homeowners and firefighters. A defensible space can include hardscaping, driveways, walkways, patios, parking areas and fencing.
What is survivable space? A survivable space is the modification and maintenance of landscape design, fuels, and building materials that can lessen the threat of wildfire damage.
What plants are better for creating defensible space? There are plants that can help reduce the spread of wildfire, however, they may require more water. Firewise Landscapes defines what landscape defensible zones are while Fire-Resistant and Fire-Prone Plants Common to Yavapai County can help you make informed plant choices.
How can I create defensible space as a homeowner? There are three management zones for defensible space; immediate, intermediate and extended zones.
- The Immediate Zone is the area 0 to 5 feet from the structure. Fuels in this zone should exclude dry grass, stacked fuelwood, ladder fuels (vegetation that allow a fire to climb from the ground into the tree canopy) and fire-prone plants such as juniper. It can include low growing, spreading ground covers, succulents, low-growing perennials/shrubs.
- The Intermediate Zone is 5 to 30 feet from the structure. If there is any slope, the distance of this zone increases as the slope increases. This can include taller shrubs with no to low resin, short native or non-native trees spaced 10 feet apart from edges, grasses cut down at end of season, perennials, wildflowers cut down at end of season.
- The Extended Zone is any area beyond the intermediate zone up to your property line. This can include larger trees and shrubs. Trees, including natives, should be limbed-up 6to 10 feet from the ground and dead material removed.
What are the four biggest wildfire behavior factors? Learn more about wildfire behavior at Firewise USA®.
- Topography, which is the lay of the property
- Weather, which includes wind speed, relative humidity and ambient temperature
- Fuels, which include vegetation and man-made structures
- Human behavior, like people building in high hazard fire areas and inadequate water supplies.
What is the best mulch to use in a Firewise® landscape? Inorganic materials such as gravel, granite and rocks are the best materials to use, especially next to a structure. Read Comparing the Ignitability of Mulch Materials for a Firewise Landscape to learn more.
How can my neighborhood become a Firewise® community? Will it impact my homeowner's insurance? To become recognized by the Firewise USA® program, the community must meet a set of voluntary criteria on an annual basis. Homeowners need to check with their insurance company to see how living in a community recognized by Firewise USA® can affect their rates.
Are resources available to help Yavapai County homeowners with property risk assessments? Learn more about resources, grants and people who can help with risk assessments in Yavapai County Community Resources.
How can homeowners let fire-fighters know the number of people and pets that could be in a home? Local fire departments have cards that can be placed by the front door/window that indicate who lives in the home including pets and an emergency phone number. Amazon and Chewy also sell similar items on their websites.
How can I receive notifications on wildfire in my area? Yavapai County residents are encouraged to sign up for the County’s new Emergency Notification System provided through Everbridge. The system provides critical and time-sensitive information for emergencies such as wildfires, evacuations, floods and missing persons to residents and businesses. By registering you can receive alerts via cell phone by voice or text, email addresses, home phone, business phone, and more. Some cities and towns have their own notifications systems so you should check with them as well.
Risk assessments
Yavapai County residents can request free home and landscape risk assessments. Start by contacting your homeowner's association or local fire district.
- City of Prescott residents should reach out to the Prescott Fire Department by calling 928-777-1700x7065 or email conrad.jackson@prescott-az.gov
- City of Cottonwood residents should connect with their fire department by calling 928-634-2741
- Yavapai Firewise has connections to home assessors in your community
- Central Arizona Fire & Medical Agency provides free property assessments by calling 928-759-9933 or 928-772-771
Non-compliance complaints
City of Prescott
- Visit the City of Prescott's website
- Click on “Departments” Tab showing all Departments
- Click on “Neighborhood Services” (928-777-1320)
- Click on “Concerns or Complaints” to access an online Complaint Form. Your complaint will either go to Code Compliance which can fine or give instructions for owner, or it may go to the Wildfire Risk Manager for City of Prescott, currently Conrad Jackson, to educate and suggest remediation.
Yavapai County
- Contact Yavapai County Planning & Zoning which may direct citizens to Code Enforcement depending on evidence or grievance.
- Yavapai County lists all of their codes and ordinances, including the Planning & Zoning Ordinance and Weeds & Trash Ordinance.
- Report a complaint by phone
- Land Use Code Enforcement Unit
Wildfire speakers
Request speakers to talk to homeowner's associations, community groups and Firewise committees.
Fire departments and districts
If your property is in a fire district, the district will be listed. If no district is listed, and Fire District Assistance Tax (FDAT) is the only "fire related" line, the property may be covered by a municipal fire department, and not in a fire district. Or the property may have no fire department coverage. Call your fire department or fire district for information on coverage.
- Prescott Fire Department is located at 201 N. Montezuma St. in Prescot
- Cottonwood Fire Department is located at 191 S. 6th Street in Cottonwood
- Yavapai County fire districts
- Yavapai County Fire District and Fire Departments Map
- Interactive map of Yavapai County fire districts helps you check if your property is covered by a fire district by. Click the "Search" tab, enter an address and scroll down to the "Special Districts" section.
Grants
- Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management offers grants to support organizations at the state, regional and local level
- Yavapai Firewise grant reimbursement process
- Prescott Fire Department provides mitigation grants and brush chipping