Incidents All News

Summary: Fire activity moderated some overnight giving Sunday’s night shift the opportunity to reinforce existing control features in advance of Monday’s incoming critical fire weather. The night shift of engines and hotshot crews focused on the northern flank of the fire, as well as east of River Road where nearly one mile of containment line was established by firing operations the night before. Firefighters continue efforts to keep the fire from impacting railroad and utility infrastructure, homes, and agricultural fields.

Tucson, Ariz. (May 12, 2025) --- Due to severe and extreme drought conditions and an uptick in fire activity, Arizona State, federal agencies, and Tribal agencies representing southeast Arizona plan to implement Stage 2 fire restrictions. 

Summary: A night shift consisting of engines and hotshot crews conducted successful firing operations along the east side of River Road, northeast of Fort Thomas. Crews stayed engaged in that area all day on Saturday, prepping the road for those operations. Firing operations, or backburns, are used to create a fire line ahead of the main fire. Resources then burn off the fuel between that line and the head to help slow the fire’s spread. Overnight crews also burned out around a home and other values at risk as part of structure and infrastructure protection.

Summary: The fire stayed active throughout the night as southeast winds fueled it to the northwest through the Gila River bottom. Firefighters stayed engaged into the early morning hours working to suppress numerous spot fires and scouting locations for day shift resources to safely engage at the head of the fire. The fire continues to produce extreme fire behavior with long-range spotting. The fire pushed approximately six miles on Friday.