The City of Prescott supports federal firefighting operations at Prescott Regional Airport. Wildland fire season in Northern Arizona officially begins today, bringing increased aviation and firefighting activity to Prescott Regional Airport – Ernest A. Love Field. With the region entering fire season at Preparedness Level 2 and Response Level 1, the City of Prescott is working closely with the U.S. Forest Service to support early-season readiness and community safety.
Located on airport property, the U.S. Forest Service’s Henry Y. H. Kim Aviation Facility, commonly known as the Prescott Fire Center, serves as a major hub for wildfire response in Northern Arizona and, when needed, across the country. The City of Prescott provides critical support by hosting these operations at the municipal airport, ensuring the infrastructure, airfield access, and coordination needed for the rapid deployment of firefighting aircraft and personnel.
This partnership is especially important as 97.15 percent of Arizona is currently experiencing some level of drought, with conditions expected to persist through July.
During fire season, residents can expect increased aircraft activity at the airport, including helicopters and large air tankers that deliver water and fire retardant to active fires. The on-site air tanker base allows aircraft to be refilled and redeployed quickly, significantly improving response times. Since January, firefighters have responded to five human-caused fires and 20 non-statistical incidents, including abandoned or illegal campfires.
The Prescott Fire Center houses a wide range of specialized programs, including an aviation program, a zone incident coordination and communication center, the National Emergency Incident Supply Center (Fire Cache), the Prescott Hotshots, a helitack crew, and an airtanker base. During peak season, staffing increases to approximately 160 personnel operating from the airport.
In addition to emergency response, the Forest Service continues fuel reduction work such as prescribed burns and debris removal. Current Energy Release Component