Photo: Conrad Jackson
The Prescott Fire Department has announced that Conrad Jackson has been selected for the new position of Wildfire Risk Management Supervisor. This position is part of a new community-wide program and supports the fire department’s strategic plan, which calls for initiatives to expand wildfire mitigation strategies for the Prescott area. The position is assigned to the fire department’s Community Risk Management division and will report to Deputy Chief Tom Knapp. Conrad is a long-time member of the community and recently retired as an Engineer with the fire department. He still currently serves as the Fire Cadet Coordinator and department historian.
“We are pleased to have Conrad serve in this role,” said Chief Durre. “Conrad’s demonstrated background in establishing new programs, having long-standing relationships with our partners in this area, and his aptitude and passion as a facilitator will serve us well in this role.”
Conrad will be responsible for developing a comprehensive plan to manage wildfire fuel and associated risk over a continuously updated multi-year time frame. The plan will reach far beyond suppression and fuels treatment and collaborate closely with community and governmental stakeholders such as Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority, Prescott National Forest, and other agencies. In addition, he will be asked to evaluate and recommend the most effective fuel treatments and may also coordinate with other partners on controlled burns, if deemed necessary.
As part of his new role, Conrad will also be the liaison to Yavapai Firewise (also known as PAWUIC) and serve as the primary contact for the administration/development of wildland-urban interface codes and associated city regulations. In support of these efforts, he will manage the transition to the Fire Adapted Community framework. This will involve education, coalition building, and communication that expands the stakeholders involved in this vital area of community preparedness.
This position is an important part of the city-wide Forestry Health and Risk Reduction program (FHRR). The program started in July when the City’s Forestry Crew moved from the Fire Department to the Recreation Services Department. This was done to help manage wildland fuels on city-owned open space and enhance the crew’s capability and access to equipment. Conrad’s role in the FHRR will be to establish a long-range wildland risk reduction strategy and to work with the forestry crew leadership team to implement projects that support this approach. The program will continue to engage in projects throughout the city and in bordering jurisdictions when a mutual benefit can be demonstrated.
“Prescott’s beautiful mountain location places our community in what we call a wildland-urban interface, with homes and property at a higher risk of exposure to wildland fire. The new FHRR program, and Conrad Jackson’s work in this important area will improve safety for our entire community by applying a comprehensive approach to mitigating wildfire risks,” said Chief Durre.
