Prescott Basin is located in central Arizona at an elevation of approximately 5,300 feet amid the largest stand of ponderosa pine in the world. The Prescott Basin is an intermix hazard situation with homes, businesses, watersheds and infrastructure at risk from wildfire. Surrounded by Prescott National Forest on the west, south and east, the primary vegetation type is ponderosa pine, juniper and manzanita. Current drought conditions exacerbate the wildfire risk and have contributed to an ips bark beetle epidemic that has killed over 50% of the ponderosa pine in the interface.

According to the US Census Bureau, the median annual household income is $35,446 and the median home value is $162,700. The population of Prescott is 33,938 with a total of 167,517 in surrounding Yavapai County. During the summer fire season the population significantly increases. The area draws about 20,000 campers and tourists, over a thousand homeless people and 4,000 - 10,000 kids a week attending 27 various youth camps. Fire poses a significant hazard to the Prescott tourism and retirement economy. Blackened hills would bring a halt to revenues from all these sources. The city is dedicated to protecting the aesthetic value that makes the area an attractive vacation and retirement destination.

On May 15, 2002 the Indian Fire burned 1,345 acres south east of Prescott. 1,500 people were evacuated, but no lives were lost and only seven structures burned. The cost of fighting the fire stands at approximately $3,000,000. Quick and coordinated response by firefighters and previous fuels reduction projects were credited for preventing a greater disaster.

Addressing the Threat

Prescott Area Wildland/Urban Interface Commission (PAWUIC)

"To reduce the occurrence and effects of wildland and structural fire in the Prescott Basin 'at risk neighborhoods' through sufficient fire prevention, fire prevention planning, vegetation management, fire safe construction, public education, adequate infrastructure and fire suppression."

-Prescott Area Wildland Urban Interface Commission mission statement

The Prescott Area Wildland/Urban Interface Commission (PAWUIC) is the main entity for coordinating activity to respond to the wildfire threat facing the Prescott area and was created to facilitate interagency cooperation. PAWUIC is a city and county jointly chartered, unpaid, volunteer, citizen-led commission that includes key individuals from city, county, state and national agencies. The PAWUIC mission statement is "To reduce the occurrence and effects of wildland and structural fire in the Prescott Basin 'at risk neighborhoods' through sufficient fire prevention, fire prevention planning, vegetation management, fire safe construction, public education, adequate infrastructure and fire suppression".

PAWUIC started in 1990 when the city manger of Prescott, the chairman of the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors and the Prescott National Forest Supervisor recognized the problem facing Prescott and decided to act. The group recognized the public must drive the process and decided to present some of the issues at stake to members of the community. According to Ed Hollingshead, PAWUIC member, "We must understand and accept that agencies and government entities cannot resolve the wildland/urban interface challenge alone. Only 'We, the people...' can do it. The effort must rely on the wealth of expertise and energy in the community. The success of the wildland/urban interface effort ultimately relies on citizen understanding the issues and demanding their resolution".