Support for Gila County Amid Ongoing Fires

As wildfires rage in eastern Arizona, the state has allocated $400,000 in taxpayer funds to assist Gila County.

This fire has heavily impacted the San Carlos Apache tribe, burning over 1,000 acres and resulting in some residents losing their homes. The funding is provided through the Joint Heat Relief Initiative by the State’s Emergency and Military Department, as stated in a recent announcement.

“Arizona’s fire season can have serious consequences for communities throughout our state,” said Hobbs in a statement on Friday. “My heart goes out to everyone affected by this devastating fire.”

“We want to express our gratitude to all the first responders who have risked their lives combating this fire and safeguarding Arizonans. We’re pleased to offer this timely relief to tribes, counties, and local governments impacted by the clock fire,” she added.

A statement from the governor’s office noted that these funds are being sourced from the heat initiative to provide “maximum flexibility,” since state law prohibits direct financial aid when formal states of emergency are declared. In a recent update on X, previously known as Twitter, Hobbs mentioned her conversation with tribe president Terry Rambler, expressing hope that the federal government would issue a “major disaster declaration.”

Investigations suggest that the fire may have been started by arson. Currently, Arizona faces two significant wildfires: the Pius Fire near Payson and the Freeman Fire in Tucson. The Forestry Fire Management Bureau has stated that the situation remains unclear.