By Ethan Faverino |
Arizona voters are deeply concerned about wildfires and are calling for a shift in state policy toward proactive forest and land management to prevent catastrophic fires, according to recent polling.
The survey, conducted by Noble Predictive Insights (NPI), found an overwhelming 78% of Arizona voters express concern about recent wildfires, with bipartisan alarm cutting across political divides.
Both Republicans and Democrats report identical levels of concern at 82%, while 70% of Independents share similar worries. This concern spans generations, with 80% of voters aged 65+ and 76% of those aged 18-29 voicing concerns.
In Maricopa County, 76% of voters express concern about recent wildfires, with 36% being very concerned, while Pima County reports a higher level of concern at 80%, with 48% being very concerned, reflecting its proximity to recent wildfire activity. Rural counties also show elevated concern at 80%, with 48% very concerned, likely due to their direct exposure to forested areas.
Notably, educational attainment correlates with heightened awareness, as 82% of college graduates and postgraduates express concern compared to 68% of those with a high school degree or less.
Despite recognizing wildfires as a pressing threat, only 18% of voters believe Arizona is well-prepared for future wildfire emergencies.
A majority (52%) acknowledge some level of preparation but see room for improvement, while 21% say the state is not prepared at all. Republicans (22%) and Democrats (21%) are slightly more optimistic about preparedness than Independents (12%), highlighting varied perceptions of state leadership’s efforts.
Maricopa County voters are slightly more optimistic on preparation, with 18% believing the state is well-prepared, compared to 17% in Pima and 20% in rural counties. However, all regions agree that significant gaps remain (54% in Maricopa, 51% in Pima, 50% in rural counties).
Arizona voters are clear in their preference for long-term prevention over short-term firefighting or recovery efforts. A striking 43% identify improved forest and land management as the top priority for state wildfire policy, far outpacing support for increased firefighting funding (23%) or post-fire recovery assistance (15%).
This prevention-first mandate holds across party lines, with 53% of Republicans, 41% of Democrats, and 35% of Independents prioritizing forest management.
“Wildfires touch every community in Arizona, and voters are telling us they do not think the state is ready enough for what lies ahead,” said Mike Noble, NPI Founder and CEO. “What is most striking is the consensus. Whether Republican, Democrat, or Independent, voters overwhelmingly want prevention to be the top priority.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
