# Assembly Approves Study of Wildfire Service Area for High-Risk Zones

The Anchorage Assembly voted unanimously to direct the administration to study creating a wildfire interface service area to fund fire protection in high-risk zones where development meets wildland.

The resolution asks several municipal departments to coordinate an evaluation of whether a dedicated service area could support long-term risk mitigation and fiscal sustainability in wildland-urban interface zones identified on updated wildfire maps. The study would examine how such a service area could be structured, funded and managed.

## Study Follows Updated Wildfire Maps

Assembly Member George Martinez introduced the resolution following recent work by the Anchorage Fire Department and the administration on updated wildfire interface maps. He said the resolution calls for a deep exploration of what it would mean to develop through a resiliency lens in areas identified as high-risk.

"I could envision that sort of thing around a dedicated support model for those interface areas where we do have sustained development patterns and future development prospects," Martinez said.

Martinez said the resolution does not create a service area or commit the body to doing so. It asks the administration to investigate feasibility and mechanisms by which a wildfire interface service area could be adopted.

Assembly Member Daniel Johnson said the resolution is merely a request to investigate feasibility.

"We know the big fire is coming," Johnson said. "I do not know if it is this year, next year, or when, but we know it is an eventuality for this city. And when that moment comes, we will all be asking ourselves if we did everything we could to be prepared to protect our neighbors and our homes from that risk."

## Funding Model Questions Remain

Vice Chair Anna Brawley supported the resolution but requested that the analysis also consider an area-wide funding model covering the entire municipality in addition to examining different service area options.

Assembly Chair Chris Constant said wildfire preparedness is an area-wide concern because if the tax base burns up, the city faces bankruptcy.

"It is an area-wide concern in my opinion," Constant said.

Assembly Member Meg Zaletel raised questions about how a wildfire service area would be funded and who would pay for it. Martinez acknowledged those questions remain unanswered.

"How do you define the service area, right? How do you determine what the appropriate levy is? Is it based on the risk in the area? Is it somehow apportioned evenly across the municipality? What is the right level?" Martinez said.

Martinez said the resolution might not bear fruit and that the administration could find a wildfire service area is not feasible because of inherent complexities. But given both the wildfire threat and fiscal constraints facing the municipality, the idea merits consideration.

The resolution passed 11-0.

The Assembly will receive the administration's findings at a future date. Any decision to actually create a wildfire interface service area would require additional Assembly action and likely voter approval.