There was an article in the Arizona Republic on Sunday June 20th about the backbone fire threatening Pine. The article states that Pine’s Wildfire Hazard Potential is 4.68 on a scale from 1 to 5, one of the highest in our state. That article on page 10B states, “A 2019 report by the Arizona Republic showed the dangers forest fires pose to certain communities. Ratings are “calculated on a scale of 1 to 5 based on fuel, topography, climate, fire history, and other factors” and are focused on smaller communities as opposed to larger Arizona cities. “
I googled the following: “Map of Arizona Forest Fire Hazards”. The introduction to the site states
“This analysis by the Arizona Republic and USA Today shows the hazard potential from forest fires and other risk factors for approximately 5,000 communities in 11 western states. Discover the weak points of each community here. “
I entered Pinetop-Lakeside and found that the 2019 Pinetop-Lakeside Wildfire Hazard Potentiality Score was 4.37 on a scale of 1-5. The median for the study was 2.08.
Other interesting data that contributed to the assessment: percentage of residents over 75 and percentage of residents with disabilities. Pinetop-Lakeside was above median in both categories for the small communities surveyed in 11 western states.
The following information, which is contained under “Evacuation restrictions”, is even more relevant to the subject of motorhome parking. Our Pinetop Lakeside Score was 537, compared to a median of 110. By touching the “?” Next to the category, the following information about the factors that were included in the rating is displayed:
Limited routes out of a community can lead to mass traffic jams during evacuation. Evacuation restriction is measured as the ratio of total households (including seasonal residences, as estimated in the 2017 American Community Survey) to major roads exiting a community, as identified in the 2019 Open Street Maps data.
On April 20th, our PAC Citizens for Quality Development requested a serial number from our town clerk in Pinetop-Lakeside for a referendum to repeal the action by the Pinetop-Lakeside City Council to approve RV park zoning for 6.2 acres of the property next to Tatiyee Land Exchange Joy’s Furniture in Lakeside. At that time, we had a few minutes to visit City Manager Keith Johnson, who expressed concern about the excess fuel levels particularly in the Blue Spruce development off the city limits (and of course next to Vallery Lane and the proposed RV park) . Although he didn’t say much more, he raised the specter of Paradise in California in the hope that our community would never face such a catastrophe.
The study I was referring to here suggests that our city and the surrounding community are indeed in a precarious position for a potential fire disaster. The current zoning of the RV park covers only 6.2 hectares with approximately 70 RV parking spaces in phase 1. Future plans reserve an additional 18.8 hectares for phases 2, 3 and 4 with a future potential of 250 or more RVs in the so-called “gateway” . “To our town or possibly to the” Choke Point “if we have to evacuate. This is not a good sign for the safety of our residents.
Our CQD PAC referendum to reverse the zoning of the city from low-density residential development to RV park development is scheduled for a letter vote by voters registered in Pinetop-Lakeside on or before November 2nd.
Chairman, Citizen for Quality Development PAC
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