Every year there are wildfires in Arizona. While many people think of Arizona as being desert, we also have significant forest lands in the state. Those, and the desert brush, are susceptible to being ignited by lightning strikes as well as by humans who sometimes cause the fires.
This list is not intended to cover every wildfire in Arizona, but I will provide some general information and significant updates to those major fires burning and being battled in the state. At the "More Info" link, you can find more detailed updates and firefighting data relative to that wildfire. When the wildfire is mostly contained, I will stop providing updates.
Wildfires in Arizona most commonly begin in May when it gets hot and dries out the fire fuels. Fires typically continue through monsoon when lightning storms happen often.
Please be careful during the hot Arizona summers -- obey all campfire restrictions and safely extinguish all cigarettes. If I see you throwing a lit cigarette out your car window, I'll be reporting it!
Note: I do not include prescribed burns in this list. Information posted here is for general information purposes only; this is not an official site of any wildfire or state organization.
Photo © Judy Hedding
Arizona Wildfire - Poco Fire
Fire name: PocoFire started: 06/14/2012
Fire location: 6 miles northeast of Young, AZ (34.182N, -110.887 W)
How many miles from Downtown Phoenix? 150
Acres burned: 11,950
Number of structures destroyed:
Number of fatalities: 0
Percent contained: 25%
More information:
June 22: This fire has been determined to be human caused. The estimated containment date is July 1st.
June 20: The majority of fire growth is on the east and northwest sides.
June 18: 677 people assigned to the fire. Cause is under investigation.
Arizona Wildfire - Fox Fire
Fire name: FoxFire started: 06/16/2012
Fire location: Southeast part of the state, Coronado National Forest
How many miles from Downtown Phoenix? 200+
Acres burned: 7,500
Number of structures destroyed: 0
Number of fatalities: 0
Percent contained: 75%
More information:
June 22: Good progress being made on this fire. Cause has been determined to be lightning.
June 20: lightning was the cause of the fire. It is taking place in the Rincon Wilderness, east of Tucson.
Arizona Wildfire - Gladiator Fire
Fire name: Gladiator
Fire started: 05/13/2012
Fire location: Crown King, AZ (34.2147N, 112.3336W)
How many miles from Downtown Phoenix? 86
Acres burned: 16,240
Number of structures destroyed: 6
Number of fatalities: 0
Percent contained: 60%
More information:
June 18: Gladiator was declared 100% contained on June 13th. Estimated cost $14 million. Eight injuries, six structures destroyed.
May 29: Financial cost of this fire estimated at $14 million. County Road 59 into Crown King is open to the public.
May 24: A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team has been mobilized to assess the damages and potential threats to Prescott National Forest lands. BAER is an emergency response to identify significant post-fire threats. Those include determining if emergency or human health, and safety conditions exist; to protect life, property, and critical cultural and natural resources; to stabilize soil; control water, sediment and debris movement and prevent impairment of ecosystems. The evacuation order remains in effect for the community of Crown King, and the Battle Flat, Pine Flat and Turkey Creek areas.
May 20: More than 1,100 people involved in fighting this fire. The evacuation order remains in effect for the community of Crown King, and the Battle Flat, Pine Flat, and Turkey Creek areas. Hot, dry, windy conditions early in the week are expected to negatively impact further containment.
May 19: More than 800 firefighters are working this fire. Eight helicopters and eight air tankers being used. Pine Flats and Turkey Creek have been evacuated. For specifics about this fire the public can call 928-632-4368 or 928-632-4420.
May 18: Battle Flat is now under evacuation order. Pine Flats and Turkey Creek have been given a pre-evacuation advisory. For questions about evacuations call the Yavapai County Sherriff’s Office at 928-713-2709. Strong winds and difficult terrain are making additional containment difficult. The fire is spreading northward.
May 17: 640 people mow fighting this blaze. Crown King is still under evacuation order.
May 16: Red Cross personnel can be reached at 928-237-6751. More than 500 people are assigned to this fire.
Aside from the three that were destroyed, 392 structures are threatened. More than 460 people are involved with fighting this fire. This fire was started as a result of a structure fire on private property. There are road restrictions in this area, and Crown King and the Horsethief Basin area are under mandatory evacuation.
Fire started: 05/13/2012
Fire location: Crown King, AZ (34.2147N, 112.3336W)
How many miles from Downtown Phoenix? 86
Acres burned: 16,240
Number of structures destroyed: 6
Number of fatalities: 0
Percent contained: 60%
More information:
June 18: Gladiator was declared 100% contained on June 13th. Estimated cost $14 million. Eight injuries, six structures destroyed.
May 29: Financial cost of this fire estimated at $14 million. County Road 59 into Crown King is open to the public.
May 24: A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team has been mobilized to assess the damages and potential threats to Prescott National Forest lands. BAER is an emergency response to identify significant post-fire threats. Those include determining if emergency or human health, and safety conditions exist; to protect life, property, and critical cultural and natural resources; to stabilize soil; control water, sediment and debris movement and prevent impairment of ecosystems. The evacuation order remains in effect for the community of Crown King, and the Battle Flat, Pine Flat and Turkey Creek areas.
May 20: More than 1,100 people involved in fighting this fire. The evacuation order remains in effect for the community of Crown King, and the Battle Flat, Pine Flat, and Turkey Creek areas. Hot, dry, windy conditions early in the week are expected to negatively impact further containment.
May 19: More than 800 firefighters are working this fire. Eight helicopters and eight air tankers being used. Pine Flats and Turkey Creek have been evacuated. For specifics about this fire the public can call 928-632-4368 or 928-632-4420.
May 18: Battle Flat is now under evacuation order. Pine Flats and Turkey Creek have been given a pre-evacuation advisory. For questions about evacuations call the Yavapai County Sherriff’s Office at 928-713-2709. Strong winds and difficult terrain are making additional containment difficult. The fire is spreading northward.
May 17: 640 people mow fighting this blaze. Crown King is still under evacuation order.
May 16: Red Cross personnel can be reached at 928-237-6751. More than 500 people are assigned to this fire.
Aside from the three that were destroyed, 392 structures are threatened. More than 460 people are involved with fighting this fire. This fire was started as a result of a structure fire on private property. There are road restrictions in this area, and Crown King and the Horsethief Basin area are under mandatory evacuation.
Arizona Wildfire - Sunflower Fire
Fire name: Sunflower
Fire started: 05/12/2012
Fire location: near Payson(33.9327N, 111.4744W)
How many miles from Downtown Phoenix? 66
Acres burned: 17,618
Number of structures destroyed: 0
Number of fatalities: 0
Percent contained: 80%
More information:
May 29: the estimated containment date is July 30th
Residents and business owners will be allowed back in the area over the three-day holiday weekend.
May 24: Lots of smoke toward Payson. Fire behavior is minimal in other areas due to lack of continuous fuels (trees and brush) as the fire bumps against the old burn area of the 2004 Willow Fire. Number of personnel down to below 100.
May 23: Estimated containment date is July 30th. A few firefighter injuries resulted in treatment and release.
May 21: Demobilizing is taking place at this fire.
May 19: Burnout operations are taking place in the southern portion of the fire today to secure the fire line.
May 17: 600 people now working this fire. The cause is still under investigation. The southernmost part of the fire is about 30 miles north of Mesa.
May 15: Located in the Tonto National Forest, and close to several favorite summer vacation spots for Phoenix residents. Several structures are threatened, including some residences. Very difficult terrain for fighting the fire. More than 400 people are assigned to fighting this fire. Smoke is an issue for surrounding communities, and, to a lesser extent, in the Phoenix area. The cause of this fire is still under investigation.
Fire started: 05/12/2012
Fire location: near Payson(33.9327N, 111.4744W)
How many miles from Downtown Phoenix? 66
Acres burned: 17,618
Number of structures destroyed: 0
Number of fatalities: 0
Percent contained: 80%
More information:
May 29: the estimated containment date is July 30th
Residents and business owners will be allowed back in the area over the three-day holiday weekend.
May 24: Lots of smoke toward Payson. Fire behavior is minimal in other areas due to lack of continuous fuels (trees and brush) as the fire bumps against the old burn area of the 2004 Willow Fire. Number of personnel down to below 100.
May 23: Estimated containment date is July 30th. A few firefighter injuries resulted in treatment and release.
May 21: Demobilizing is taking place at this fire.
May 19: Burnout operations are taking place in the southern portion of the fire today to secure the fire line.
May 17: 600 people now working this fire. The cause is still under investigation. The southernmost part of the fire is about 30 miles north of Mesa.
May 15: Located in the Tonto National Forest, and close to several favorite summer vacation spots for Phoenix residents. Several structures are threatened, including some residences. Very difficult terrain for fighting the fire. More than 400 people are assigned to fighting this fire. Smoke is an issue for surrounding communities, and, to a lesser extent, in the Phoenix area. The cause of this fire is still under investigation.
Arizona Wildfire - Bull Flat Fire
Fire name: Bull Flat
Fire started: 05/10/2012
Fire location: near Cibecue (34.2313N, 110.7819W)
How many miles from Downtown Phoenix? 131
Acres burned: 2,145
Number of structures destroyed: 0
Number of fatalities: 0
Percent contained: 95%
More information:
May 20: Containment reached 95%, 150 people are monitoring and patrolling the fire.
May 17: This fire is projected to impact 5,000 acres before total containment, which is estimated to be around May 20th.
May 15: This fire is being handled primarily by the Bureau of Indian Affairs as it is located on Native American land in a remote area of the the Sitgreaves National Forest. No structures are threatened at this time. It is believed to be caused by lightning.
Fire started: 05/10/2012
Fire location: near Cibecue (34.2313N, 110.7819W)
How many miles from Downtown Phoenix? 131
Acres burned: 2,145
Number of structures destroyed: 0
Number of fatalities: 0
Percent contained: 95%
More information:
May 20: Containment reached 95%, 150 people are monitoring and patrolling the fire.
May 17: This fire is projected to impact 5,000 acres before total containment, which is estimated to be around May 20th.
May 15: This fire is being handled primarily by the Bureau of Indian Affairs as it is located on Native American land in a remote area of the the Sitgreaves National Forest. No structures are threatened at this time. It is believed to be caused by lightning.
Arizona Wildfire - School Canyon Fire
Fire name: School Canyon
Fire started: 05/08/2012
Fire location: southern AZ, near the Mexican border
How many miles from Downtown Phoenix? 200+
Acres burned: 7,049 in the U.S, 2,000 acres in Mexico
Number of structures destroyed: 0
Number of fatalities: 0
Percent contained: 100%
More information:
The fire was contained with the help of rain on May 9. This fire was determined to be human caused.
Fire started: 05/08/2012
Fire location: southern AZ, near the Mexican border
How many miles from Downtown Phoenix? 200+
Acres burned: 7,049 in the U.S, 2,000 acres in Mexico
Number of structures destroyed: 0
Number of fatalities: 0
Percent contained: 100%
More information:
The fire was contained with the help of rain on May 9. This fire was determined to be human caused.
