Firewise Efforts Ramp Up as Arizona Wildfire Season Looms in Las Sendas

Firefighters and neighbors in the northeast Mesa community are taking proactive steps to mitigate fire risk.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 12:19am

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A vast, atmospheric landscape painting in muted earth tones, with rugged vegetation in the foreground dwarfed by the sweeping scale of the Tonto National Forest and ominous storm clouds overhead, conveying the sublime power of nature.Proactive Firewise efforts in high-risk communities aim to protect homes and lives from the growing threat of wildfires in Arizona.Mesa Today

With Arizona's wildfire season underway, a crew of 30 workers in the Las Sendas community of northeast Mesa have been targeting dry roadside plants and shredding brush and kindling that could catch fire if sparks ignite the hillsides near Tonto National Forest. Mesa Fire officials are encouraging more neighborhoods in the area to get involved in the FireWise program to help prepare for the upcoming wildfire season.

Why it matters

The Las Sendas community sits adjacent to the Tonto National Forest, putting it at high risk for wildfires during the dry, hot Arizona summers. Proactive Firewise efforts can help create defensible space around homes and reduce the spread of potential blazes, protecting both property and lives.

The details

On Tuesday morning, the crew used chainsaws to uproot and shred brush and other dry vegetation along the roadsides in Las Sendas, a community of around 5,000 families. This work is part of the FireWise program, which aims to help neighborhoods prepare for and mitigate the risks of wildfires.

  • Arizona's wildfire season is unofficially underway.
  • The brush-clearing work took place on Tuesday morning.

The players

Mesa Fire

The local fire department that is encouraging more neighborhoods to participate in the FireWise program.

Tonto National Forest

The national forest that borders the Las Sendas community, putting it at high risk for wildfires.

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What’s next

Mesa Fire officials hope to see more Northeast Mesa neighborhoods get involved in the FireWise program to help prepare for the upcoming wildfire season.

The takeaway

Proactive Firewise efforts in high-risk communities like Las Sendas are crucial for protecting homes and lives from the growing threat of wildfires in Arizona.