CURRENT NEWS . . .
OCC CHRISTMAS EVENT 2022 – Santa wiil arrive via OFD Fire Truck on Sunday, Dec 11 at the Community Center at 5:30pm. Thanks to these sponsors for sponsoring the event: OFD / Saddlebrook Rotary / Dubs Plumbing / Annien's Hair Studio/ United Steel Workers local 886.
WOOD PERMITS AVAILABLE (10/2/22 – 01/28/23) – Santa Catalina Mountains / Sabino Canyon $20 (2 cords hardwood) or (4 cords softwood). Contact Adam Brzostowski: 520-749-7717.
ORACLE FIRE HYDRANTS – OFD Firewise Board members planning strategy for weedeating around Oracle's 120 Fire Hydrants. Thanks to volunteers for their hard work Nov. 16, 2022. Thanks to Dale Suter for heading up the project.
Group members shown left getting their Oracle fire hydrant maps.
An example of weeds that accumulate around the hydrants each year.
Photo right shows how grass and weed cutting can make such a big difference. Can you find the fire hydrant now? Fire fighters can quickly find them now in case of a fire.
PRESCRIBED BROADCAST BURNS –
Prescribed broadcast burns have begun in the Santa Catalina Ranger District as of Nov. 1, 2022. Coronado National Forest advised us recently that they would resume the prescribed burning in the Santa Catalinas (Mt. Lemmon). These burns may continue through the end of the month or possibly longer. Many people reported seeing plumes of smoke recently on the north side of the Catalinas which is to be expected.
The plan is to start with the Inspiration Rock unit, then move to the Bigelow unit, and finally to the unit between Turkey Run and Radio Ridge as weather conditions allow throughout the week.
Broadcast burns are the final step in large landscape treatment. Within these areas, heavy fuel loads need to be reduced and fire reintroduced as a natural process to restore the ecological balance. Broadcast burns not only meet the objectives of a pile burn, but they also serve to reduce the risk of catastrophic fires that threaten human safety and property.
Please be aware when traveling on Mount Lemmon Highway as smoke and additional traffic could be possible in the area.
For more information click HERE to connect with Coronado National Forest.
GOOD NEWS! The Oracle Brush Dump is now open!
The Oracle Brush Dump will resume normal operations:
Open Tues.–Sat. from 8am–4:45pm, Closed Sunday and Monday!
Thank you very much for your patience. We strive to serve our community in the most safe and effective manner possible.
Reminder: The Oracle Brush Dump is open to residents of Oracle Fire District ONLY and a Resident Card is necessary to use it.
We have had so many residents, friends and family, asking about the brush dump. A special thanks to all of YOU!
IT'S FLOOD SEASON – Elevate your preparedness for flood season. Know the road to take before flooding begins. For more information on floods and other emergencies, go to the Arizona Emergency Information Network (AzEin) at ein.az.gov
OFD IS RECRUITING! – Oracle Fire is now recruiting for Part-Time and Reserve Firefighter/ EMTs. Paid 24-hr shifts. You must be at least 18. Click HERE to see our flyer with more details or you can email us at: rjennings@oraclefire.org
STRUCTURE FIRE IN ORACLE (09-16-22) – A fire at a storage and workshop building at Rancho Robles Ranch began early in the morning. Thanks to Oracle Fire Department, Golden Ranch Fire, Mammoth Fire, AMR and others, the fire was contained. Oracle CERTs helped firefighters with water, food, rehab, and other duties as needed. No residential buildings were lost.
NEW DIRECT LINKS TO BURN PERMITS AND RESTRICTIONS –
We now have a new main link button (left) on this home page to these important sources regarding Burn Permits and Restrictions.
• Pinal County – BURN PERMITS and another for PERMITTED FIRES.
• Coronado National Forest – All info including Burn Permits.
• Dept. of Forestry & Fire Management (DFFM) –
A direct
link to FIRE RESTRICTIONS.
• For state, federal, and tribal fire restrictions visit their NEW website at
Arizona State Park: https://azstateparks.com
WASTE VOUCHER DISPOSAL PROGRAM
Many residents have been inquiring about the most recent Waste Voucher Disposal Program through Pinal County. If you cannot open the application POSTER, please call 520-866-6419 or email them at: pcroadmaintenance.sharedmailbox@pinal.gov.
NEED HELP TO FIREWISE YOUR PROPERTY? – OFD is now accepting applications for a grant that may help you now or in the future. Click HERE to find out details.
Click HERE for the application. If you just need a list of landscapers and contractors that are available here in Oracle, click HERE for more information. Note: they do not work for OFD.
OFD BRUSH DUMP
UPDATED POLICIES & PROCEDURES: (02-04-22)
POLICIES:
• Use of the brush dump is limited to vegetation removed from properties within Oracle Fire District.
• As always, only tree & shrub trimmings, grass cuttings, and leaves are accepted. Tree trunks over 10” in diameter, tree stumps, cactus, agaves, or yuccas are NOT accepted as they do not burn completely. NO trash, lumber or construction materials, pallets, etc.
• Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday. 8am- 5pm (last key check out at 4:45pm).
• We are now closed on Sundays and Mondays and all Holidays.
• The key will NOT be given to anyone without proof of residency or a permit.
• Non-compliance with any policies or procedures may result in permission to use the brush dump being revoked.
PROCEDURES:
• Proof of residency (Driver License, utility bill, or property tax document) that shows that you own property within Oracle Fire District or are renting is required to complete a resident form and to obtain permits.
• New resident forms will only be issued by the OFD administrative staff, front office of the fire station, Mon-Thurs 8am-4pm, and Friday mornings 8am-noon.
• If you cannot make it to OFD during these admin. hours, email either Tina at tacosta@oraclefire.org or Cherie at ccheney@oraclefire.org or call 520-896-2980 during admin. hours for alternative methods.
• Once an Oracle resident form is completed, they will be issued a Resident card with their name and number, which can be shown at the front office for the brush dump key.
• For an Oracle resident using a contractor to haul their brush, a sheet of 5 “permits"with your name and Resident ID # will be issued. The resident will be required to complete each permit with their name and phone number. When needed, the resident will fill in the contractor’s name and phone number on the permit and give one permit to them. More permits may be issued on a case-by-case basis.
• The resident will show their card, or the contractor will give the permit to the person at the front window of the OFD station, and will be required to pay the appropriate fee . . .
• $5 for one load – back of truck OR trailer
• $10 for two loads – back of truck AND trailer
• $20 for a dump truck.
Note:
EXACT CHANGE IS REQUIRED!
Can't take it to the local OFD Brush Dump?
Materials (like cactus, agaves, large tree stumps, construction lumber, etc) can be taken to our local Waste Management location using a Pinal County voucher. Updated information to come soon.
WILDFIRE INFORMATION – There is ONE WEBSITE that has the best information on all major fires in the US. Make this a bookmark for Arizona and any other state you may want to check on. The home page takes you to the most current and largest fires. It has maps, details and updates. For all fires in one state, click at the top right, choose your state and click GO. Click HERE to go to that site or bookmark the link: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
Facebook is also another good source for the latest information.
PREPARING FOR WILDFIRE – Your future self may thank you for this: do these two things right now to prepare for wildfires. Not sure how? Click HERE.
GETTING ALERTS – If you have not yet turned in our ENS form to be added to the OFD emergency notification system, please fill out the form, complete and either email back to OFD (Tina), fax, or bring in. Don’t forget to sign up for the Pinal County Emergency Notification System as well.
THE ORACLE EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM (ENS) –
You can't afford not to be on this list for emergency notifications. Click to go to the "ENS" form and be
sure to get any additional numbers (besides your landline) in the system by filling it out and returning it to
Oracle Fire District. Just drop it by the fire station.
HOME ALONE ENS SYSTEM – If you are in need of an earlier warning to evacuate due to your health or to relocate animals and livestock, you can be in a special group that gets ENS warnings ahead of the general public. Here's a LIST of evacuation information that may help you.
INTERESTED IN EVACUATION PREPARATION OR WILDFIRE STATUS? Here are some links and documents that will help you find the information you need:
• Ready, Set, Go - Information on One Less Spark, One Less Wildfire.
• How to Have a Firewise Home (606kB)
• Living with Wildfire (3.5MB)
• FEMA Evacuation Checklist (123kB)
• One Less Spark (Poster) (2MB)
• Newsletter - SUMMER
• EQUINE & LIVESTOCK EVAC PREP - Link to Video on youtube – Wildfire preparedness tips from a firefighter, veterinarian and ranch owner called "Saving the Ranch."
MORE INFORMATION – Would you like more useful info on wildfire?
Click HERE for News & Information, Fire Weather, Maps, WIldland Fire Data in Google Earth, Arizona Fire Ecology, WIldland Fire, Firewise Resources, Smoke and Air Quality, Info for Before, During and After a Wildfire, How to Help and Fire Prevention & Education topics. There are several excellent artlces relative under each topic you can click to at the Arizona Interagency Wildfire Prevention website.
What is a Red Flag Warning? – According to the National Weather Service, a Red Flag Warning is issued when a "combination of low humidity, strong winds, dry ground cover, and warm temperatures are expected to bring critical fire weather conditions to the warned area." When we have these conditions, you may see our red flag flying in front of the fire station. Please be vigilant and cautious especially on these days.
