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2020 Arizona wildfires

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For the series of wildfires that took place in Maricopa County, Arizona from May to October 2020, see 2020 Maricopa County wildfires.

2020 Arizona wildfires
Map of fires during the 2020 Arizona wildfire season
Statistics
Total fires2,520
Total area978,519 acres (395,993 ha)
Impacts
Deaths1 indirect
Non-fatal injuries0
Damageunknown
Season
2021 →
2020 Western U.S. wildfires
Multiple wildfires burning near the Pacific coast of the U.S. on September 9, 2020
Affected states
Background
Largest wildfire by state
  • Arizona - Bush (193,455 acres)
  • California - August Complex (1,032,648 acres)
  • Colorado - Cameron Peak (208,913 acres)
  • Nevada - Meadow Valley (59,265 acres)
  • New Mexico - Cub (25,950 acres)
  • Oregon - Santiam (402,274 acres)
  • Utah - East Fork (89,765 acres)
  • Washington - Pearl Hill (223,730 acres)

The 2020 Arizona wildfire season was a series of wildfires that burned across the state of Arizona. The season is a part of the 2020 Western United States wildfire season. With 2,520 fires burning 978,519 acres (395,993 ha) of land, it was the largest wildfire season in Arizona since 2011.[1][2] Wildfires occur year-round in the state but are most numerous and typically burn the largest swaths of land during spring and summer. Peak fire season in the Southwest typically runs from May, when conditions are windy, hot, and dry, through mid-July, when the North American Monsoon provides the region with precipitation to slow fire activity.[3]

By the end of the year, more than fifty fires larger than 1,000 acres (400 ha) had burned within the state. However, the most notable fire of the season, the Ocotillo Fire, burned only 980 acres (400 ha) over four days and threatened the town of Cave Creek. It destroyed 20 buildings, including 8 homes.[4]

Early outlook

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In April, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management expected a "potentially active" fire season reminiscent of the 2019 season. Increased grass load from a wet winter is expected to contribute to an elevated risk of fire in the Central Arizona deserts.[5] Southwest Coordination Center Predictive Services forecasted an Above Normal risk for significant wildland fires from May through July for most of Arizona (excepting the Colorado Plateau), with fire potential returning to Normal by August with the arrival of a climatologically average monsoon. They cited above normal fine fuel loading in southern Arizona deserts and an active weather pattern through mid-June to support this risk.[6] A fire department helicopter crashed while bringing supplies to firefighters, killing the pilot.[7]

List of wildfires

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The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), or produced significant structural damage or casualties.

Name County Acres Start date Containment date Notes Ref
Basin Mohave 38,804 May 10 May 21 Lightning-caused [8][9]
East Desert Maricopa 1,492 May 17 May 22 Human-caused [10]
Jackrabbit Maricopa 2,034 May 25 May 26 Human-caused [11][12]
Range Pinal 3,286 May 29 June 1 Cause unknown [13]
Ocotillo Maricopa 980 May 30 June 2 Human-caused; 20 buildings destroyed in Cave Creek [4]
Sawtooth Pinal 24,729 May 30 June 19 Lightning-caused [14]
Sunset Yavapai 3,964 May 31 June 1 Human-caused; Forced closure of I-17 in both directions on May 31 [15][12]
Tortolita Pinal 3,321 June 5 June 11 Lightning-caused [16][12]
Bighorn Pima 119,987 June 5 July 23 Lightning-caused; around 80 homes in Catalina were forced to evacuate on June 12
Summerhaven and surrounding areas on Mt. Lemmon were given evacuation notice on June 16.
The Willow Canyon region of Mt. Lemmon and some parts of Oracle were told to evacuate on June 18
Further evacuations were announced for the eastern slopes of the Santa Catalinas on June 26		 [17][18]
Blue River Gila 30,408 June 5 June 25 Lightning-caused [19]
Emigrant Cochise 4,756 June 6 June 14 Lightning-caused [20][12]
Dry Lake Graham 4,369 June 6 June 24 Lightning-caused [21][12]
Bringham Greenlee 23,142 June 6 July 29 Lightning-caused; 36-mile closure of US 191
2 structures destroyed		 [22][12]
Mangum Coconino 71,450 June 8 July 27 Closure of US 89A and SR 67, making the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park inaccessible
Evacuations were issued for areas along House Rock Road east of Jacob Lake on June 17
4 structures destroyed		 [23][12]
Bush Maricopa 193,455 June 13 July 6 Human-caused; Evacuations issued for: Tonto Basin, Punkin Center (June 14),
Sunflower, Apache Lake (June 16)
Brownsville, Jake's Corner, Slate Creek, and Pioneer Pass (June 18)
Gila County evacuation orders were lifted on June 20		 [24]
Central Maricopa 4,499 June 20 June 30 Human-caused [25][26]
Aquila Maricopa 893 June 23 June 26 Human-caused; 6 structures destroyed [27][28]
Painted Wagon Maricopa 490 June 25 June 27 human-caused; 5 structures destroyed [27][29]
Wood Springs 2 Apache 12,861 June 27 July 11 Lightning-caused; 7 structures destroyed in Navajo Nation [30][12]
Boulders Pinal 1,011 June 30 July 4 [31]
Polles Gila 628 July 3 July 23 Lightning-caused; A helicopter supporting firefighting efforts crashed on July 7, taking the life of pilot Bryan Boatman.
The incident is under investigation.		 [32][33]
Monument Coconino 1,785 July 5 July 30 Lightning-caused [34][12]
Buren Maricopa 2,800 July 11 July 14 Human-caused [34][12]
Navarro Pima 2,306 July 11 July 14 Lightning-caused [35][34]
Jackson Graham 2,946 July 11 July 22 Lightning-caused [36]
Blue River 2 Gila 28,051 July 13 July 27 Lightning-caused [37][12]
Valley Graham 29,639 July 13 July 18 Lightningt-caused; 2 structures destroyed [38][12]
Pine Yavapai 2,184 July 14 August 13 Lightning-caused [39][12]
Thumb Coconino 8,354 July 16 July 26 Lightning-caused [40]
Pine Hollow Coconino 11,405 July 29 August 6 Lightning-caused [41]
Cassadore Springs Gila 21,482 August 1 August 19 Lightning-caused, 1 structure destroyed
Kean Fire merged into the Cassadore Springs Fire on August 3		 [12]
Bumble Bee Yavapai 2,993 August 7 August 12 Human-caused [42]
Goldfield Maricopa 1,970 August 10 August 12 Human-caused [12]
Klaus Cochise 4,864 August 10 August 24 Lightning-caused [43] [44]
Wood Canyon Cochise 2,320 August 12 August 17 Lightning-caused [12]
Quail Gila 2,064 August 15 August 19 Lightning-caused [12]
Ridge Mohave 3,079 August 16 September 2 Lightning-caused [45]
High Creek Graham 1,642 August 16 August 20 Lightning-caused [12]
Griffin Gila 61,821 August 17 September 6 Lightning-caused; Gin Fire merged with the Griffin Fire on August 21 [46] [47]
Salt Gila 21,670 August 17 September 6 Lightning-caused [48] [47]
Rolls Maricopa 1,350 August 18 August 24 Lightning-caused [49]
Lofer Apache 1,256 August 18 September 22 Lightning-caused [50][12]
Black Canyon Mohave 7,897 August 18 September 5 Lightning-caused [12]
Constellation Yavapai 12,252 August 20 August 28 Lightning-caused [51]
Superstition Pinal 9,539 August 20 September 24 Lightning-caused [52]
Rockhouse Gila 19,506 August 21 September 15 Lightning-caused [53][12]
Medicine Gila 8,930 August 22 September 9 Lightning-caused; 1 structure destroyed [54][12]
Bozarth Yavapai 5,000 August 24 September 15 Lightning-caused [55]
Meddler Gila 4,452 August 24 August 30 Lightning-caused [56] [47]
Pilot Knob Yavapai 11,000 August 24 August 31 Lightning-caused [57][12]
Hidden Gila 6,106 August 25 September 15 Lightning-caused [58][12]
Juniper Graham 2,867 August 27 September 1 Lightning-caused [59]
Bolt Maricopa 1,420 August 28 September 4 Lightning-caused [60] [47]
Light Graham 937 August 28 September 10 Human-caused; 3 structures destroyed [12]
Cow Canyon Greenlee 35,371 September 3 November 27 Lightning-caused [12]
Sears Maricopa 14,476 September 25 October 11 Cause unknown; 13 structures destroyed [12]
Espinosa Pima 1,834 October 5 October 16 Human-caused [12]
Encinos Pima 14,905 October 6 October 24 Human-caused [12]
Horse Yavapai 9,537 October 15 October 31 Human-caused [12]
Habanero Pinal 3,128 October 21 October 24 Human-caused [12]
Trail Yavapai 1,674 October 24 November 2 Human-caused [12]
Three Hills Pima 1,350 October 27 October 30 Human-caused [12]
Round Valley Cochise 1,587 October 31 November 5 Human-caused [12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Vandell, Perry. "2020 was one of Arizona's worst wildfire seasons in a decade, with 978,519 acres burned". No. January 27, 2021. Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  2. ^ "2019 Wildfire Season: An Overview Southwestern US" (PDF). Forest Stewards Guild. Northern Arizona University. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  3. ^ "Fire Behavior Field Reference Guide, PMS 437 – Fire Season Climatology". nwcg.gov. National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Ocotillo Fire destroys iconic Cave Creek business, 8 homes". AZ Family. June 2, 2020.
  5. ^ "2020 Arizona Wildfire Outlook". dffm.az.gov. Department of Forestry and Fire Management. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  6. ^ "2020 Fire Season Considerations and Outlook". Southwest Coordination Center. May 5, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  7. ^ "Helicopter crashes while working on the Polles Fire in Arizona". Wildfire Today. July 7, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  8. ^ "Basin Fire burns 36,000 acres in northwest Arizona". Wildfire Today. May 11, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  9. ^ "Basin Fire Information". InciWeb. May 21, 2020. Archived from the original on June 8, 2020.
  10. ^ "East Desert Fire Information". InciWeb. May 25, 2020. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020.
  11. ^ Wegner, Helena (May 26, 2020). "Jackrabbit Fire near Wickenburg grows to more than 2,000 acres". The Arizona Republic.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah "National Large Incident Year-to-Date Report" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 29, 2020.
  13. ^ "Range Fire Information". InciWeb. June 1, 2020. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020.
  14. ^ "Sawtooth Fire Information". InciWeb. June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  15. ^ "Sunset Fire closes Interstate 17 north of Phoenix". Wildfire Today. May 31, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  16. ^ "AZ Dept. of Forestry & Fire Management: Tortolita Fire 100% contained". KVOA – News 4 Tucson. June 11, 2020.
  17. ^ "Bighorn Information". InciWeb. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  18. ^ "Arizona Wildfire Closes North Rim of Grand Canyon; In Southern Arizona, Bighorn Wildfire Continues To Grow". The Weather Channel. June 12, 2020.
  19. ^ "Blue River Fire Information". InciWeb. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  20. ^ "Open Incidents – WildCAD AZ-Tucson Interagency Dispatch Center". WildWeb. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020.
  21. ^ "Dry Lake Fire Information". InciWeb. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  22. ^ "Bringham Fire Information". InciWeb. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  23. ^ "Mangum Fire Information". InciWeb. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  24. ^ "Bush Fire Information". InciWeb. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  25. ^ "Central Fire burning near New River grows to 1,500 acres". AZ Family. June 20, 2020.
  26. ^ "Central Fire Information". InciWeb. June 21, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  27. ^ a b "Open Incidents – WildCAD Arizona Dispatch Center". WildWeb. Archived from the original on June 29, 2020.
  28. ^ "Aquila Fire Information". InciWeb. June 24, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  29. ^ "Painted Wagon Fire near Wittmann burns 550 acres, destroys 5 structures". AZ Family. June 25, 2020.
  30. ^ "Wood Springs 2 Fire Information". InciWeb. June 29, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  31. ^ "Open Incidents – WildCAD Arizona Dispatch Center". WildWeb. Archived from the original on July 8, 2020.
  32. ^ "Polles Fire Information – InciWeb the Incident Information System". InciWeb. July 8, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  33. ^ "Open Incidents – WildCAD Phoenix Dispatch Center". WildWeb. Archived from the original on July 27, 2020.
  34. ^ a b c "Open Incidents – WildCAD Arizona Dispatch Center". WildWeb. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020.
  35. ^ "Navarro Fire Information". InciWeb. July 11, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  36. ^ "Jackson Fire Information". InciWeb. July 11, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  37. ^ "Blue River 2 Information". InciWeb. July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  38. ^ "Blue River 2 & Valley Fires Update for July 18, 2020 – Ko' Ba Nagoni i'". InciWeb. July 18, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  39. ^ "Open Incidents – WildCAD Prescott Dispatch Center". WildWeb. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020.
  40. ^ "Thumb Fire Information". InciWeb. July 19, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  41. ^ "Pine Hollow Fire Information". InciWeb. July 29, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  42. ^ "Bumble Bee Fire Information". InciWeb. August 8, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  43. ^ "Klaus Information". InciWeb. August 10, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  44. ^ "WCAZ-TDC 8/2020". WildWeb. Archived from the original on September 8, 2020.
  45. ^ "Ridge Fire Information". InciWeb. August 16, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  46. ^ "Griffin Fire Information". InciWeb. August 17, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  47. ^ a b c d "Open Incidents – WildCAD – Phoenix Interagency Fire Center". WildWeb. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020.
  48. ^ "Salt Fire Information". InciWeb. August 17, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  49. ^ "Rolls Fire Information". InciWeb. August 18, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  50. ^ "Lofer Fire Information". InciWeb. August 28, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  51. ^ "Constellation Fire Information". InciWeb. August 20, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  52. ^ "Superstition Fire Information". InciWeb. August 20, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  53. ^ "Rockhouse Fire Information". InciWeb. August 29, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  54. ^ "Medicine Fire Information". InciWeb. August 22, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  55. ^ "Bozarth Fire Information". InciWeb. August 24, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  56. ^ "Meddler Fire Information". InciWeb. August 24, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  57. ^ "Bozarth Fire Information". InciWeb. August 24, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  58. ^ "Hidden Fire Information". InciWeb. August 25, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  59. ^ "Juniper Fire Information". InciWeb. August 29, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  60. ^ "Bolt Fire Information". InciWeb. August 29, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
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