After dodging two wildfires in one year, Cave Creek has prepared itself for future threats.
CAVE CREEK — Lisa and Bruce Arlen wrapped their paintings in bubble wrap and paper for the second time in two weeks.
Left with nothing but an empty, one story house on the five-acre property, they relied solely on their community, which came together to help them and other victims of the fire. Tonto forest fire officials, along with state and local agencies, fought the fire before a Type 1 Incident crew took over. Though it never reached Cave Creek, it came close, and it burned 11 homes in Camp Creek, a populated area in the Tonto Forest.
“It was a full week without any sleep,” he said. “Evacuation of any kind is a mayor’s worst nightmare.”“It came down to the last minute,” he said. “It wasn’t luck. It was good firefighting.” It was “an indication of the type of community Cave Creek is,” he said. “We respect each other's privacy, but if somebody’s in trouble, everybody’s there.”
The Arlens were among those told to leave their homes. They neatly packed their paintings and other essentials, unaware they’d repeat the process again later in the month. As night drew near, the flames of the East Desert Fire grew increasingly visible in the distance. “You always have some people who say ‘I’m not leaving. I’m gonna defend my house,’” Ford said. “We can rebuild your house. We can’t replace your life.”“When you’re told to leave, just leave,” Bruce Arlen said.
“You gotta give the firefighters a chance,” he said. “If you give them defensible space, they might have a better chance. If your house is overgrown and you decide to stay, you’re creating a larger risk for firefighters and police.” Firefighters and police aren’t the only ones who respond to calls for help in Cave Creek.
Left with no safety net, Cave Creek hired a consultant to assess the risk, and the surrounding fire chiefs reached out to Ford, along with Phoenix, Scottsdale and Glendale fire departments. “I can use the expertise that’s already there,” Ford said, rather than build a fire department from scratch. He held up a white sheet of paper next to his face. “This blank sheet of paper is what the town ,” he said. They didn’t know what they were doing.”
Since Ford’s arrival and the creation of the Cave Creek Fire Department, Bunch said improvements are already visible.
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