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posted by Michael Chihak

Springerville Town Manager Steve West says his community will survive and thrive, eventually, in the wake of the record-setting Wallow Fire because of its character.

"What you find in small communities that you don't necessarily find in big communities, in the metropolitan areas, is that everyone, when it's the worst, they band together," West said in an interview for Friday's Arizona Week.

He said full economic recovery could take three to five year, not just because of the fires. The lingering recession is a major contributing factor, West said.

Springerville-Eagar Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Becki Christensen said she thinks local businesses must rethink their approach and not be afraid to undergo change.

Christensen, also interviewed for Friday's Arizona Week, said she hopes that when people understand the underlying causes of the fire -- federal restrictions on logging and cattle grazing -- that there will be a loosening to allow those industries to return and create jobs.

On Friday's program at 8:30 p.m. MST on PBS-HD-6, complete details from them and from neighboring businesses, via an interview Beverly Stepp, executive director of the Pinetop-Lakeside Chamber of Commerce.