CURRENT NEWS . . .

UPCOMING ORACLE TOWN HALL – The Oracle Firewise Board will be hosting a Town Hall meeting at the Oracle Community Center this Thursday, March 23rd at 6pm. The theme is: "Wildfire Preparedness – What is YOUR role?"
Fire Chief Robert Jennings will head up the event, followed by various speakers and presenters who will discuss the upcoming wildfire season. There will be two raffles for those present, and Smokey Bear will be there as well! Please come early as OCC is offering a FUND RAISING dinner at 5pm for only $10. Click HERE to see the flyer for more information.

OFD FIRE BOARD VACANCY NOTICE – An interim vacancy in the Oracle Fire District Governing Board was declared on March 15, 2023. If you are interested, please get a Letter of Interest and resume to the OFD office no later than 5:00pm, March 28th, 2023. Click HERE to read the notice and for more information.

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT AT OFD – FULL-TIME CAPTAIN.
Oracle Fire District is currently recruiting for a full-time position for Captain. Open date: 2/28/23  Close date: 3/14/23 before 1700 hours. Salary Range: Annual - $62,036 – $66,949 (Depending on experience)
QUALIFICATIONS:  • Leadership 1 •  Leadership 2 •  Leadership 3 
• Firefighting Strategy and Tactics • Incident Command System class  •  Urban interface class •  Officer safety class 
•  Five years current consecutive firefighting experience incl. three years experience as Fire Fighter or Fire Engineer.  
• PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:  Engine Boss (wildland). 
HOW TO APPLY: Click HERE or on the Application tab on left side of this page. Submit application/resume and current certifications to: rjennings@oraclefire.org or drop off at OFD at 1475 W. American Ave. Oracle, AZ 85623.

OFD FREE SMOKE ALARM PROGRAM – Oracle Fire District is now offering FREE SMOKE ALARMS to Oracle Fire District Residents Only! The program includes free smoke alarms – including installation. Hard of hearing alarms are also available to qualified residents. Alarms MUST be installed by OFD staff volunteers! This offer is funded by Red Cross and will run while supplies last!
To take advantage of this free opportunity, please contact:
Tina or Cherie at OFD 520-896-2980 •  M-F: 8am-3pm. Ask to be added to the Free Smoke Alarm Program.
THE FREE SMOKE ALARM PROGRAM WILL RUN FROM
JANUARY – JUNE 2023! Contact us to request your alarms and schedule an appointment!

KEVIN ARMBRUST AWARD – At the Oracle Fire District (OFD) Board meeting on Feb. 15, 2023, OFD Board members, Chiefs, staff, and Oracle Firewise Board and OFD CERT volunteers, presented an award of achievement to Kevin Armbrust to recognize his 14 years of volunteer service. Kevin grew up in the Tri-Community and has always been an active participant. He started volunteering for OFD in 2008 and has just “retired” at the end of 2022.
We have been honored to work with Kevin for a long time. But, he has also volunteered at other Oracle community facilities including OCC, OHS and is very active in the annual Car Show. His presence at OFD will be greatly missed. Read more about Kevin in the latest issue of The Miner and on Facebook.

(left:) Oracle Fire Chief Robert Jennings presents award to Kevin Armbrust / (right:) Oracle Fire Chief Jennings, OFD Board member Rob Walker, Kevin Armbrust and OFD Board Chairman / CERT Jim McNulty. (photos: Rachel & Michael Opinsky)

BRUSH DUMP IS NOW CLOSED! – and will be closed until further notice. Due to the Oracle Fire District brush dump reaching maximum capacity, we have had to close the OFD Brush Dump. We apologize for the inconvenience. An alternative dump site is Waste Management.
Free vouchers are available through Pinal County: Eligible Cities: Aravaipa, Dudleyville, Kearny, Mammoth, Oracle, San Manuel, and Superior. Here is the Application Process:
1. Complete and return the Application. Contact 520-866-6419 for the application. https://pinalcountyaz.seamlessdocs.com
2. Submit a current utility bill stating your name and residential address. Acceptable Documents: Water, Power, Sewer & Trash Bill.
3. Submit a copy of a valid Arizona State Issued ID / Driver’s License.
4. Submit all documents to: pcroadmaintenance.sharedmailbox@pinal.gov
or contact 520-866-6419 to make arrangements to pick up or apply for vouchers. Three vouchers are issued to the primary residence once per year. Valid voucher dates are July-Oct, Nov-Feb & March-June. Any lost vouchers will not be replaced.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.