By: Coconino County Supervisor, District 2, Jeronimo Vasquez
For as long as I can remember, the outdoors has been an interwoven element of my life. For my family, it was something that we were always mindful of and it informed so many of the values that I continue to carry in my life today. I also come from a family of educators and they instilled in me the importance of education, community, and youth programming. Looking back now, my career aligns with so much of the teachings they shared with me.
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Contact: Amy Dominguez, Communications Coordinator, Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO); 801-928-9157, amy@hechoonline.org
Flagstaff — In Arizona, where unprecedented weather events, such as devastating wildfires, drought, record heatwaves and flashfloods dominated headlines in 2021, nature-based infrastructure solutions in President Biden’s Build Back Better Act present an opportunity to keep communities and natural landscapes safe from the climate-driven impacts that are sweeping the nation today.
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On Sunday morning, July 21, 2019, just about a mile north of Flagstaff, AZ, a hibernating fire, started from an excavator striking a rock, began to grow until it came to be what is now known as the Museum Fire. The fire was first spotted around 10:00 A.M. that day, and continued to burn at varying intensities for almost a month before being fully contained. During the days that the fire burned, one of the city’s most popular recreational spots was covered in a thick blanket of smoke and the sight of an orange sky loomed over city residents. Helicopters and ground crews worked tirelessly trying to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading further. Once the fire was 100% contained nearly a month later, on August 12th, it was determined that 1,961 acres were completely burned leaving the area, that is not only important to the local residents but also many species of concern, like the Mexican Spotted Owl, completely destroyed.
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Land based traditions have been a part of my life since before my inception. On my mother’s side we have deep roots in agriculture in Northern Mexico. On my father’s side we have generations of farmers and ranchers in central Mexico as well as a few generations of loggers in Arizona. In my family story, the land is what brought us together. As the owner of Suarez Forestry LLC, it keeps us working together.
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On November 10, HECHO hosted the next installment of our ongoing series, Climate Solutions in Action, dedicated to strengthening Hispanic voice and visibility in public lands decision-making and advocacy. The event focused on the importance and impact of forest restoration, the importance of forest health, and how forest industries and agencies are responding to climate change. HECHO was joined by panelists, Heather Provencio, Kaibab National Forest Supervisor, Jay Smith, Coconino County Forest Restoration Director, Devon Suarez, of Suarez Forestry LLC, and Sasha Storz, National Forest Foundation Arizona Program Manager.
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My family’s been living in the San Francisco Peaks area for three generations and the forest is everything to us. All my life my family would tell stories of the time they spent out on the land. One of my grandfathers was a logger and spent his entire career in the forest. There’s even a legend about a huge mule deer buck my grandpa got at Schultz Pass back in the 40’s. Personally, I’m an avid bow hunter, hiker, and mountain biker. I’m out there all the time. I even combine my mountain biking and hunting, since most of the forest is closed to cars.
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At 11:09 a.m. on June 20th, 2010, an unattended campfire sparked a wildfire north of Flagstaff, Arizona in Coconino County. Due to high winds and excessive forest overgrowth, the fire grew quickly, and firefighters were unable to fully contain it until July 1st. In the end, 15,000 acres on the east side of the San Francisco peaks were burned to the ground.
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