Utah-Arizona towns face fire aftermath and tourism losses

Impact of Wildfires on Businesses in Northern Arizona

As wildfires continue to ravage northern Arizona, local officials in Coconino County have taken a critical step by applying for a federal Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration through the Small Business Administration (SBA). This initiative aims to provide much-needed financial relief to businesses affected by the ongoing crisis. If the request is approved, business owners in Coconino and surrounding areas will be eligible to apply for low-interest federal loans designed to help them recover from the economic setbacks caused by the fires.

The situation is dire for many small businesses, particularly those located in gateway communities like Kanab and Fredonia. These towns rely heavily on tourism, especially during the fall season, which is typically their busiest time of the year. However, business owners are already reporting significant drops in revenue and fear that the impact will only worsen as the fire season continues.

Financial Struggles and Long-Term Concerns

Sherre Finicum, a fifth-generation rancher, shared her family’s experience with the Mangum Fire five years ago, which had a lasting impact on their operations. “Having to basically give away really good, healthy mother cows and calves for rock bottom prices was a real financial setback,” she said. “Not to mention the setback in our operations as far as genetics, breeding, and producing efficient cows.”

This year, Finicum took precautions by moving her cows to different pastures that were not in the direct path of the fire. However, she still fears the long-term consequences of the flames. “The level of smoke is going to impact the calves' gain,” she explained. “They're also not in the best pasture, so it messes with my rotation. It will definitely have an impact. I may not see it immediately this year, but it may bump down a few years.”

In addition to her ranching operations, Finicum owns a small roadside rock-art business on the Arizona-Utah border. She noted that the drop in sales at her lemonade stand—a simple representation of the broader trend—has been drastic. “My sales at my little lemonade stand have dropped about 75%,” she said during a community meeting hosted by the county.

Community Response and Calls for Policy Change

Local officials have emphasized that if the SBA loan application is approved, a team will be deployed to the region to help business owners assess whether applying for a loan makes sense for them. This support could play a crucial role in jumpstarting economic recovery efforts. However, many residents have expressed that they need more than just financial assistance—they want meaningful policy reforms.

Finicum voiced concerns about existing policies that she believes contribute to the severity of wildfires. “I think there are policies in place that are actually detrimental,” she said. “I would hope the government would be aware of how their policies allow fires to grow bigger instead of stopping them earlier and now causing so much damage to the land, wildlife, and businesses.”

Fredonia Mayor Don Johnson echoed these sentiments, pointing to decades of poor forest management as a contributing factor to the current crisis. “This fire didn’t start last week or the week before,” he said. “This fire started 20 years ago because of forest management. There’s probably more timber burnt in the last few days than has been sold off that mountain in 20 years, and that affects us economically.”

Ongoing Challenges and Uncertainty

The Grand Canyon's North Rim remains closed through the end of the year, further compounding the challenges faced by local businesses and residents. The ongoing uncertainty has left many questioning the long-term viability of their operations and the future of the region’s economy.

As the fires continue to burn, the need for comprehensive solutions—both immediate and long-term—has never been more urgent. Business owners, local leaders, and residents are calling for action that addresses not only the financial impacts of the disaster but also the systemic issues that have contributed to the growing threat of wildfires in the area.