Hobbs visits Watch Fire scene after $400,000 allocated for assistance

(The Center Square) – Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is visiting the scene of the Watch Fire on Thursday after $400,000 in state funding was allocated to help in the disaster’s aftermath.

Although the fire in eastern Arizona had been extinguished after burning over 2,000 acres, 13 homes were lost this past week as a result, according to the Arizona Republic. The fire primarily impacted residents living on the San Carlos Apache Reservation.

“We are in the heat of the wildfire season, and it is critical that communities affected by these devastating fires have the resources they need to keep residents safe,” Hobbs said in a statement on Thursday. “The San Carlos Apache Tribe has my full support, and I look forward to joining Chairman Rambler and others on the ground to hear about their efforts and how we can continue partnering to mitigate the damage that has been caused as a result of the Watch Fire.”

The governor is expected to meet with tribal leaders, emergency management officials and State Forester Tom Torres, the news release stated.

There are two other major wildfires that are ongoing in the state – the Freeman Fire in the Tucson area and the Black Fire near Globe.

The money headed toward the Watch Fire is noteworthy given that it’s coming from the state-based Joint Heat Relief Initiative, but the governor’s office noted in a news release on Friday that current regulations do not allow the reservation to be reimbursed under traditional disaster declarations made by the state.

The frustration over regulations to get funding for wildfire and heat relief is not just coming from the governor’s office, as Attorney General Kris Mayes and 13 other attorney generals nationwide asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to allow for grants to be used for wildfire smoke-related issues.

"Extreme heat and wildfire smoke events are devastating because of their severe impact on public health and the environment, yet they are not currently recognized as major disasters by FEMA," Mayes said, The Center Square reported. "Updating FEMA's regulations to include these events will provide much-needed resources and help us better protect our residents."