Rep. Ciscomani Votes Yes on House Funding Bill Including Funds for Oracle Brush Dump

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representative Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) released the following statement on the Senate Amendment to (H.R. 5371) Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act which included $340,049 for the Oracle Fire District (OFD) in the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration FY26 Appropriations bill. This investment will help the district purchase an Air Curtain Burner to improve safety, efficiency, and environmental quality in brush disposal operations. 

“As the sole appropriator in Arizona, this is exactly what I fight for in Washington – bringing money back to Arizona and our communities,” Congressman Ciscomani said. “I’m incredibly excited to see this money go to the town of Oracle and for them to be able to purchase this Air Curtain Burner/Incinerator to improve safety and efficiency for the burning of the materials. Congratulations to the town of Oracle!” 

The funding will allow OFD to replace traditional “pile” burns with a modern Air Curtain Burner system that offers several key benefits. The new equipment will enhance firefighter safety by reducing the number of personnel required for brush burning operations and minimizing exposure to open flames and heavy smoke. It will also lower operating costs, as the incinerator requires fewer staff to run while increasing the efficiency of the burn process. 

In addition, the Air Curtain Burner will significantly reduce the amount of smoke produced during burns, improving air quality for both firefighters and nearby residents. By containing embers more effectively, it will decrease the risk of accidental fires and help the district comply with state and federal air quality standards. This investment will also enable OFD to keep the brush dump open more frequently, providing a safer and more sustainable means of disposing of hazardous vegetation materials. 

Congressman Ciscomani worked to secure the following funds through Community Project Funding request: 

• $340,050 for the Oracle Brush Dump for the Oracle Fire District: These funds will be used to allow the Oracle Fire District to purchase an Air Curtain Burner/Incinerator, to greatly improve the safety and efficiency of burning the brush, which is the only alternative to disposing of these volatile materials. 

In FY2026, Congressman Ciscomani submitted 15 projects across all five counties in the district for a total of nearly $77.6 million. He is the only member of the Arizona congressional delegation who serves on the Appropriations Committee.