CURRENT NEWS . . .
ORACLE FUEL BREAK – Santa Catalina Ranger District –
Oracle, AZ – (Oct. 13, 2026) – From October 2026 through April 2027, the Santa Catalina Ranger District, Coronado National Forest, plans to continue the Oracle Fuel Break project, implementing Phases 3, 4, and 5. The timeline is subject to favorable weather conditions and adherence to all necessary approvals.
The project is located directly south of the town of Oracle, on National Forest Service land, and within the Catalina-Rincon Mountain FireScape. Once complete, a 300-foot fuel break spanning 42 acres across three sections will be established to reduce fuel loading adjacent to private land (Click HERE or on the map to view the Oracle Fuel Break map).
The purpose of this project is to increase the probability of success in protecting the town of Oracle from the negative effects of a wildfire. The fuel break is not designed to stop fires but instead to change the fire’s behavior and intensity. In addition, the fire break can be used as anchor points for indirect or parallel attack lines during prescribed or wildfires.
PHASE 3 (20 acres):
• 150 feet on the north and south sides of Cody Loop Road in the designated perimeter on the project map, 150 feet from the edge of the pavement.
• Cut material will be chipped and hauled off-site.
PHASE 4 (10 acres) and PHASE 5 (12 acres):
• 150 feet on the north and south sides of Mount Lemmon Road in the designated perimeter on the project map. 150 feet from the edge of the pavement.
• Cut material will be shipped and hauled off-site.
Catalina–Rincon Mountains FireScape (CRFS) –
The CRFS project area comprises approximately 265,000 acres of National Forest System lands in Pima, Pinal and Cochise counties, including two wilderness area, two research natural areas, and six inventoried, roadless areas. The CRFS is a landscape-scale restoration project that focuses on promoting resilient ecosystems; protecting life, property, and natural resources; and encouraging natural wildland fire to function as a healthy process in the ecosystem.
See link for more information and a map of the area.
PINAL COUNTY OPEN BURNING PERMITS – Pinal County Air Quality is now assuming the issuance of open burning permits throughout the county. Burn permits allow open burning to dispose of plant material during limited daytime hours. To obtain your permit, your can apply online or in person. For more details, call 520-866-6929 or go to pinal.gov/burnpermits.
AZ DEPT OF FORESTRY –
With cooler temperatures and increased moisture across Arizona, Arizona Forestry is getting ready to begin prescribed fire work around the state. Starting this fall and continuing through early 2027, the department will conduct both broadcast and pile burns to treat thousands of acres as part of wilfire risk reduction, community protection and forest health improvements.
BRUSH DUMP NEWS –
ATTENTION: Effective SEPTEMBER 12, 2026, the Oracle Brush Dump IS NOW CLOSED due to MAX CAPACITY! Re-opening will be determined and communicated at a later date. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
(Note: The Brush Dump is operated by the Oracle Firewise Board and Oracle Fire District. It is subject to closure or opening at any moment).)
2026 FIREWISE LETTER FROM THE CHIEF . . .
The 2026 fire season is shaping up to be another challenging year, not only for Arizona, but for much of the Western United States. In Oracle, early moisture followed by above-average temperatures led to accelerated vegetation growth and early blooming. As conditions have shifted, winds are now drying out that growth, creating a significant amount of receptive fuel that sits there waiting to be consumed by any little spark.
One of the most effective tools we have as a community is education. Programs like Firewise and CERT along with initiatives such as Ready, Set, Go, the Emergency Notification System (ENS), and maintaining defensible space around your home, are critical components to survive a wildfire. However, simply having access to this information is not enough, it is essential that we understand it and how to apply it.
The Cody Fire tested our community and Fire District in unprecedented ways. It became the top priority in the State, and possibly the Nation. Even with extensive resources deployed, it remained a significant challenge to prevent the fire from re- entering Oracle. While several factors worked in our favor during those critical days, we cannot assume that will always be the case.
Preparation is key. The more proactive each of us is, the greater our collective ability to protect lives, property, and our community. MY advice to everyone is to BE ready so you don’t have to GET ready, take Firewise seriously, sign up for emergency notifications, stay informed, get involved, and share information with others.
. . . Robert Jennings – Oracle Fire District Fire Chief
KEEPING IN TOUCH . . . ENS AND PENS . . . HOME ALONE:
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.
Note: Residents enrolled should add the number 520-896-2749 to their phone contacts as your phone may identify the call as spam.
THE ENS FORM – If you have not yet turned in Oracle's 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 PENS as well.
PINAL COUNTY EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM (PENS) –
Pinal County offers another notification system called PENS besides our ENS system. You may request this one as well. Contact them to get on their list. It's completly free and to sign up you only need a phone number or email address.
YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR PENS –
(Pinal Emergency Notification System) at this link:
https://www.pinal.gov/1335/PENS---Pinal-Emergency-Notification-System
PINAL COUNTY “HOME ALONE UNIT” Program –
Pinal County offers a program for people who would like a way to contact emergency response personnel quickly and efficiently in the event of emergencies. The program provides a medical alert system, for anyone who wants one, that can be used for any kind of emergency.
The system is comprised of a 911 pendant that can be carried around the home and activated in the event of an emergency, and a base unit that will automatically dial 911 when a button on the pendant is pushed. The pendant has a microphone that allows the user to communicate verbally with a 911 dispatcher. Additionally, it operates on caller ID so that even if voice communication with the dispatcher cannot be established, emergency response personnel will automatically respond to the address of the caller.
The program has been operational for at least 20 years and, over the years, has successfully notified first responders of many people in distress in the Oracle area.
The program in Oracle is administered by Oracle Fire District for residents within Oracle Fire District. The program was designed for elderly or handicapped people but is open to anyone who feels the need for an additional level of security within the home. The units are provided free of charge by the County, there is no monthly service charge, and are installed and maintained by a team of OFD volunteers. Routine checks, either in person or by phone, are made every six months to make sure the units are working properly. Users are also trained in how to check their units by themselves.
In most cases, the units are functional anywhere within the home and, nominally, within 100 feet of the house outside. One limitation is that the user must have a local “896” land line. The County has investigated possible ways to provide this service using cell or mobile phones but, as of now, has not found a way to do so.
Residents interested in the program, and who have a land line number (896 prefix), may inquire by contacting OFD
at 520-896-2980 (ask to speak with Tina or Kathleen).
ORACLE EVACUATION MAP – Don't know what your Evacuation Zone Number is in case of evacuation? Click HERE to check your zone number after finding your nearest address location on the map.
GETTING UP TO DATE WILDFIRE INFORMATION –
https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/ for up-to-date wildfire information.
For more info
on any fires
near Oracle or in AZ, click HERE or go to:
https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/
You can also go onto Facebook to our Oracle Fire District link
(click on the right side of this page to facebook). We have information with updates from dffm.az.gov.
• GET THE FREE APP CALLED "WATCH DUTY" on your phone or go to WatchDuty.org and get notifications and status regarding fires in your area and elsewhere.
FOR OFFICIAL STATE OR COUNTY NOTICES –
• Coronado National Forest –
US Forest Service – www.fs.usda.gov
* Pinal County News – Check PinalCounty.gov for futher information.
ROAD CLOSURES – Official road closures are available at https://az511.gov. Please refer to OFD Facebook and website, Watchduty.org and the Watch Duty app for updates.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION from the Watch Duty app provides timely and accurate information with WIldfire Maps & Alerts.
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
MORE WILDFIRE INFORMATION – Would you like more general 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.
NEED HELP TO GET FIREWISE? – OFD is accepting applications for a grant that may help you now or in the future. Click HERE to find out details and HERE for the application. If you just need a list of landscapers or contractors that are available in Oracle, click HERE for more information. Note: they do not work for OFD.
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."
OFD IS RECRUITING! – Oracle Fire is 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 email us at: rjennings@oraclefire.org / Click HERE for an APPLICATION.
