The past two years of back-to-back and record-breaking wildfire activity sparked the topics for two Gila County Cooperative Extension Thursday webinars.

Tune in Oct. 29 for Gila County Emergency Manager Carl Melford, who will discuss planning tools such as the Gila County Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP), and how you can help to protect your home, family and community from the evolving threat of wildfire and post-fire flooding events.

On Nov. 5 Tonto National Forest Fire Ecologist Dr. Mary Lata will host an update on Woodbury Fire ecology.

Cooperative Extension’s excellent series of free weekly online presentations are arranged and hosted by Chris Jones, Extension Agent with University of Arizona Gila County Cooperative Extension. To be added to Mr. Jones’ invite list for gardening and horticulture workshops, email ckjones@email.arizona.edu or call 928-402-8586.

Please log in up to 10 minutes prior to the webinar. The Zoom address is  arizona.zoom.us/j/95997618518, but easier and more convenient direct hotlinks are at extension.arizona.edu/gila, where you can also view previous programs such as “Winter Gardening” and “Payson’s New Fire Adapted Community Code.” Cooperative Extension’s website above has an array of links to programs, talks and resources for Rim Country gardeners. Links are also conveniently posted each week on Facebook, where you can join Chris Jones and a local network of gardeners and green-thumbed followers at facebook.com/gilaextension.

Oct. 29 Gila County Emergency Management

Carl Melford, Gila County’s Emergency Manager, began a public safety career as a Detention Officer with the Gila County Sheriff’s Office, then as a Globe Police Department officer. In 2015 he was hired by Gila County Emergency Management, and focused on implementing Gila County’s own emergency notification system - available free to residents throughout the county who opt to sign up for real-time text, voice or email emergency alerts (you can subscribe today at readygila.com).