STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – State Representative Walt Blackman is calling on Governor Hobbs to step in and fix wildfire dispatch practices that prioritize out-of-state firefighters over local contractors at a higher cost, needlessly waste taxpayer dollars, and weaken Arizona’s fire readiness.

“Arizona’s fire seasons are getting longer and hotter,” said Representative Blackman, Chairman of the House Government Committee. “We should be using every trained and equipped engine in the state—but instead, we’re bypassing local crews and importing more expensive resources from out of state.”

Private wildfire contractors spend tens of thousands of dollars each year to keep their engines staffed, maintained, and ready to respond. They take on that financial risk without any promise of being dispatched. Meanwhile, publicly funded cooperator agencies face no such risk but continue to receive preference.

Dispatch logs show a growing number of orders marked “Contractors Not Acceptable,” blocking Arizona-based engines from being considered. At the same time, out-of-state engines—like those from Colorado—are being brought in at a much higher cost, sometimes as much as $1,400 more per engine.

“We’re paying 40% more to use out-of-state resources when we have local contractors ready to go,” Representative Blackman said. “Arizona contractors are losing work, taxpayers are paying the price, and we’re weakening our own fire response.”

Representative Blackman warns that if this trend continues, many private wildfire contractors in Arizona will be forced to shut down, leaving the state dangerously short-handed during peak fire season.

He is calling for an immediate audit of dispatch records to determine why so many contractor orders are being rejected and to identify any misuse or bias in the system. He’s also urging the state to lift unnecessary chainsaw restrictions in contractor agreements—rules that were imposed without consulting field professionals and that limit how effectively crews can do their jobs.

“Our fire contractors are experienced, well-trained, and committed to Arizona,” said Representative Blackman. “They deserve a fair shot—and Arizonans deserve the best value and strongest response we can provide.”

Representative Walt Blackman is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 7 and is Chairman of the House Government Committee. Follow him on X at @BlackmanForAZ.