Quail Creek Firewise Program

Overview

What is Firewise?
Firewise is a voluntary national program by the NFPA, supported by agencies like the U.S. Department of the Interior, to help communities reduce wildfire risk. In Arizona, it’s managed by the Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM). The program encourages and recognizes the efforts property owners take to implement community-based solutions in creating defensible space around homes, implementing vegetation management, and fostering public awareness and education on mitigating risks from wildfire and reducing the chances of home ignition by wildfires.

Why Firewise for Quail Creek?
Quail Creek residents showed interest in the Firewise Program due to rising wildfire concerns linked to their desert surroundings. Community members are now exploring ways to assess and reduce wildfire risk.

Community Engagement and Expert Collaboration
After months of discussion with residents, the POA Board, experts, and Firewise communities, Quail Creek committed to a wildfire risk assessment, supported by the Santa Rita Fire District and conducted by Arizona DFFM and the Tucson Bird Alliance.

Formation of the Quail Creek Firewise Task Force
A Firewise Task Force of about nine members—including POA Board/Management, seven residents, and GM Melani Caron—has been formed to lead the effort. (See Task Force Description for details.)

Next Steps

Quail Creek's initial Firewise Program activities include professional wildfire risk assessments, community education, and the development of a Firewise Action Plan. The program will feature two assessments:

 Arizona DFFM Firewise Assessment: This free assessment will evaluate common areas such as green spaces and washes, providing general guidance for residents to reduce wildfire risks on their own properties.

 Tucson Bird Alliance Assessment: This assessment, which requires Board approval and costs around $6,200, will focus on wash areas to identify invasive species and unhealthy vegetation that increase wildfire risk.

Community-wide Educational Events
Educational events for residents, which will cover wildfire risks and planned follow-up activities, are expected to be scheduled in the fall or winter of 2025-2026, when most seasonal residents have returned.

Development of a Quail Creek Firewise Action Plan
A key result of this effort will be the Quail Creek Firewise Action Plan, outlining recommended mitigation steps, cost estimates, and funding options. While many Arizona communities have received state grants, decisions on next steps will follow completion of the assessments and action plan.

The planning process will include community input and discussion. Most Firewise plans take at least three years to implement, with some activities becoming part of regular landscape maintenance.