That bumper crop of flowers and grasses from all that rain are going to turn from beautiful to deadly this coming wildfire season.
"The perception is it's been really wet and the risk isn't as high,'' said Gov. Katie Hobbs during the state's annual briefing about conditions in the state's grasslands and forest. "But all of that green is going to become fuel. We need folks to be extra aware and extra cautious.''
State Forester Thomas Torres said while much of the focus this year is in southern Arizona, it would be wrong to believe that other areas of the state are not at risk.
"Think the areas around Prescott, Payson, that part of the world," he said.
At the same time, John Truett, the state fire manager, said there are still vacancies in his agency despite despite promises last year to increase funding. And that complicates efforts to fight blazes as they occur.