List of Arizona wildfires

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Photograph of the Wallow Fire from space. (June 8, 2011) Wallow NASA modis 6-08-11.jpg
Photograph of the Wallow Fire from space. (June 8, 2011)

This is a list of known wildfires in Arizona.

Statistics

WildlandPrescribed
YearFiresAcresFiresAcres
2002 [1] 3,041700,1011,20195,576
2003 [2] 2,876192,538450111,460
2004 [3] 2,602219,90065766,199
2005 [4] 4,027975,456452111,452
2006 [5] 3,274177,4271,57675,325
2007 [6] 2,240101,38136398,593
2008 [7] 1,85085,496413132,951
2009 [8] 2,371263,3582,097147,531
2010 [9] 1,51774,44520367,799
2011 [10] 1,9691,036,93516055,069
2012 [11] 1,684216,09024380,959
2013 [12] 1,756105,28113449,491
2014 [13] 1,543205,19913364,905
2015 [14] 1,662160,15222496,973
2016 [15] 2,228308,245217102,025
2017 [16] 2,321429,564190133,878
HumanLightningTotal
YearFiresAcresFiresAcresFiresAcres
2018 [17] 1,36486,43463678,9222,000165,356
2019 [18] 1,463178,815406206,1271,869384,942
2020 [19] 2,073353,797451624,7712,524978,568
2021 [20] 1,267337,276506187,1531,773524,428

Notable fires

YearFire NameDescriptionCauseVegetation [21] CountySizeStructures LostDeathsInjuries
1977Radio FireScorched the peak of Mount Elden in Flagstaff.HumanPonderosa Pine /
Mixed conifer /
Grassland
Coconino 4,600 ac

7.2 sq.mi.

1,862 ha

000
1977Carr Canyon FireScorched the peak of Carr Peak, Miller Peak in Sierra Vista.HumanPonderosa Pine /
Mixed conifer /
Brush /
Grassland
Cochise 4,000 ac

6.2 sq.mi.

1,200 ha

000
1990Dude Fire [22] Large fire on the Mogollon Rim that burned for 10 days. On June 25, six firefighters were killed in a burn over. Including the first female wildland firefighter killed in Arizona. It was Arizona's worst forest fire in history at the time.LightningPonderosa Pine /
Pine-Oak woodland
Coconino28,000 ac

44 sq.mi.

11,331 ha

6360
1994Rattlesnake FireScorched the peak of Chiricahua Peak in Douglas.LightningPonderosa Pine /
Mixed conifer /
Grassland
Cochise 25,000 ac

30+ sq.mi.

3,000 +- ha

000
1995Rio Fire [23] [24] Fast moving brush fire blackened 36 square miles of desert landscape, including a large part of McDowell Mountain Regional Park and sections of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.LightningDesert Maricopa 23,000 ac

36 sq.mi.

9,308 ha

000
1996Lone Fire [25] Largest fire in the history of the Tonto National Forest burns in the Four Peaks Wilderness. The state's largest fire in 25 years.HumanDesert /
Brush /
Mixed oak, pine
Maricopa61,300 ac

96 sq.mi.

24,800 ha

000
1996 MayHorseshoe FireFire originated on Horseshoe Hill and spread NE.HumanPonderosa Pine /
Grassland
Coconino 8,100 ac

13.7 sq.mi.

3,280 ha

000
1996 JuneHochderffer FireFire originated at Hochderffer Hills (about 14 miles NNW of Flagstaff) and spread NE.LightningPonderosa Pine /
Mixed conifer /
Grassland
Coconino 16,680 ac

25 sq.mi.

6,520 ha

000
2000 MayPumpkin FireBurned large portion of 10,423' (3177m) elevation Kendrick Peak.LightningPonderosa Pine /
Mixed conifer
Coconino 14,760 ac

23 sq.mi.

5,970 ha

000
2002 Rodeo–Chediski Fire The Rodeo fire was intentionally started on June 18 by a seasonal firefighter looking for employment; the Chediski fire was accidentally started on June 20 by a stranded driver trying to attract a news helicopter. Burning areas joined on June 23, having collectively consumed around 300,000 acres. Largest fire in Arizona history at that time.HumanPonderosa Pine, Oak /
Juniper-Pinyon
Coconino / Gila / Navajo 468,638 ac

732 sq.mi.

189,651 ha

42600
2003 Aspen Fire Fire on Mount Lemmon in the Santa Catalina Mountains burned through the town of Summerhaven, destroying 325 of 340 structures.HumanAspen /
Pine-Oak /
Conifer
Pima / Pinal 84,750 ac

132 sq.mi.

34,297 ha

325+00
2004Willow Fire [26] Large fire southwest of Payson in the Mazatzal Wilderness.LightningDesert Shrub /
Chaparral
Gila119,500 ac

187 sq.mi.

48,360 ha

000
2004Nuttall/Gibson Complex FireScorched the peak of Mount Graham in Safford.LightningPonderosa Pine /
Mixed conifer /
Spruce
Graham 30,000+- ac

40+ sq.mi.

5,000+ ha

000
2005 Cave Creek Complex Fire Two lightning-caused fires merged to create the third largest wildfire in Arizona history (at that time). Destroyed the historic Cave Creek Mistress Mine, and likely lead to the death of the largest-recorded saguaro cactus.LightningDesert Grass /
Chaparral /
Mixed conifer
Maricopa / Yavapai 243,950 ac

381 sq.mi.

98,723 ha

11+00
2005Florida FireLightning-caused fire that spread throughout the Santa Rita Mountains within the Coronado National Forest. Destroyed the upper Florida Canyon watershed with its old-growth Douglas Fir forest.LightningOak woodland /
Mixed conifer
Santa Cruz23,183 ac

36 sq.mi.

9,382 ha

000
2006Brins Mesa FireWildfire (reportedly started by campers) that began on June 18, 2006, about one mile north of Sedona. Burned on Brins Mesa, Wilson Mountain and in Oak Creek Canyon.HumanPonderosa Pine-Oak /
Juniper-Pinyon
Yavapai /Coconino4,317 ac000
2010 June Schultz Fire Burned large portion of 10,085' (3074m) elevation Schultz Peak and southeastern slopes of San Francisco Mountain. Extensive debris flows and flooding ensued, affecting downslope residential areas beginning July 2010, and resulting in one fatality.HumanPonderosa Pine /
Mixed conifer
Coconino 15,075 ac

23.5 sq.mi.

6,100 ha

010
2011 Horseshoe 2 Fire Fifth largest fire in Arizona History burned the southeast flank of the Chiricahua Mountains in the Coronado National Forest.HumanDesert grassland /
Scrub Oak /
Pine
Cochise 222,954 ac

348 sq.mi.

90,226 ha

2300
2011Monument Fire [27] Human caused fire burns through the Miller Peak Wilderness in the Huachuca Mountains and into Sierra Vista.HumanConifer-Oak /
Pinyon-Juniper
Cochise30,526 ac

48 sq.mi.

12,353 ha

8400
2011 Wallow Fire Largest fire in Arizona history. Burned 841 square miles of vegetation in the Apache National Forest near Alpine.HumanPonderosa Pine /
Gamble Oak /
Sagebrush shrubland
Apache / Graham / Greenlee / Navajo538,049 ac

841 sq.mi.

217,741 ha

72016
2012Gladiator Fire [28] Residential fire sparks large fire in the Prescott National Forest near Crown King.HumanPine-Oak /
Ponderosa Pine
Yavapai16,240 ac

25 sq.mi.

6,572 ha

608
2013 Yarnell Hill Fire [29] [30] June 28 lightning-started fire that grew rapidly due to high temperatures, low humidity and wind. Occurred near the town of Yarnell, about 85 miles NW of Phoenix, killing 19 firefighters and forcing the closure of parts of State Route 89.LightningDesert grass /
Pinyon-Juniper woodlands
Yavapai 8,500 ac

13 sq.mi.

3,440 ha [31]

1291922
2014Slide Fire [32] Late in the afternoon of May 20, 2014, a wildfire was reported in Oak Creek Canyon, just north of Slide Rock State Park. It was fully contained on June 4, 2014, due to the efforts of over 1,230 firefighters, 50 crews, 29 engines and 9 helicopters. Its cause is still officially classified as "unknown," but officials have said it was likely started by humans. [33] UnknownPonderosa Pine-Oak /
Juniper-Pinyon
Coconino 21,227 ac000
2016 Baker Canyon Fire UnknownBrush Cochise 7,980 ac000
2016 Topock Fire HumanBrush Mohave 2,200 ac000
2017 Sawmill Fire [34] [35] On April 23, 2017, a father hosting a gender reveal party shot a target containing tannerite (an explosive substance) and blue powder, to announce that the baby was a boy. The explosion started a fire in the surrounding grass. Over 100 people were evacuated and total damage amounted to about $8 million.HumanGrass /
Chaparral /
Oak Brush
Pima 46,911 ac00
2017 Goodwin Fire The fire began on June 24, 2017. The fire caused the Mayer Fire Department and the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office to shut down parts of Highway 69 between the towns of Mayer and Dewey-Humboldt. More than 100 people had to be evacuated. Most of the evacuees were from the town of Mayer.UnknownDry grass /
Brush /
Chaparral
Yavapai 28,516 ac501
2019 Woodbury Fire Began on June 8, 2019, five miles northwest of Superior, AZ. Over its duration, the fire traveled through the Superstition Wilderness area of the Tonto National Forest, tracking to the northeast toward Theodore Roosevelt Lake.HumanTall grass /
Brush /
Chaparral
Pinal, Maricopa, Gila123,875 ac000
2020 Bighorn Fire The fire starting during a thunderstorm over the Tucson area the evening of June 5. A lightning strike hit Coronado National Forest. The fired moved into the Pusch Ridge Wilderness of the Santa Catalina Mountains. By the evening of June 10, the fire had moved to the south side of the Santa Catalina Mountains making the flames visible throughout Tucson. [36] Evacuations for areas near the fire began on June 11. [37] LightningBush, treesPima119,541 ac009 [38]
2020 Bush Fire The fire started not far from SR-87 which ultimately led to the ongoing closure of this route. The fire is believed to be human-caused, but is still under investigation. Due to high winds and low humidity, the fire rapidly spread and has forced evacuations on large sections of the communities of Tonto Basin and Punkin Center. [39] HumanGrass, Chaparral, Juniper-PinyonMaricopa, Gila193,455 ac000
2020 Mangum Fire The fire started around 3pm EDT on June 8, 2020 in the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The fire has evacuated the community of Jacob Lake. The cause of the fire is currently unknown. [40] UnknownTimber, Short Grass, Brush Coconino 71,450 ac000
2021Spur FireThe Spur Fire started on May 27, 2021, in Bagdad. Due to strong winds, the fire spread quickly into the mining town of Bagdad and residents were ordered to evacuate. The fire as a result destroyed 20 structures including 13 homes. The fire is believed to be caused by a road construction crew nearby. [41] HumanDry grass /
Brush
Yavapai 153 ac2000
2021 Tiger Fire The Tiger fire started on June 30, 2021, due to a dry lightning strike in the Prescott National Forest. An evacuation order was placed for Horsethief Basin Lake due to the fire burning near the reservoir. On July 30, 2021, the fire reached 100% containment with no injuries or deaths reported and no buildings damaged or destroyed. [42] LightningDry grass / Brush Yavapai 16,278 ac000
2021 Telegraph Fire The Telegraph Fire started on June 4, 2021 in Superior. The cause is unknown, but it is believed to be by humans. As of July 3, 2021, the fire has been 100% contained. [43] HumanDry grass / BrushPinal180,747 ac5100
(May 15, 2011) Photograph of the Horseshoe 2 Fire from the International Space Station. (Original Photo) Horseshoe 2 Fire, Arizona 3500x1000.JPG
(May 15, 2011) Photograph of the Horseshoe 2 Fire from the International Space Station. (Original Photo)

Lesser known fires

YearFire NameDescriptionCauseVegetation [21] County(ies)Size (acres)Structures LostDeathsInjuries
1990Big Bug FireSmall fire started by a logger's burning vehicle.HumanN/AYavapai100000
1990Bray FireSmall fire on the Mogollon Rim near Bray Creek Ranch.N/AN/ACoconinoN/AN/AN/AN/A
1990Encinosa Fire [44] Small fire along U.S. Route 89 near Oak Creek Canyon.N/AForestCoconinoN/AN/AN/AN/A
1991Geronimo Fire [45] Small fire caused by a Canadian hiker's unattended campfire 25 miles southwest of Flagstaff, Arizona in the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness.HumanHigh Desert / RiverCoconino85+000
1991N/AFire about two miles east of Sunset Crater.N/AForestCoconino450000
1992Troon FireDry conditions helped fuel a brush fire near Troon Country Club. Actual fire name is Granite Mountain.N/ADesertMaricopa3,000000
1994Warm Springs Fire [46] N/AN/ADesert Mohave 7,000+N/AN/AN/A
1994Black Mesa FireN/AN/ADesert Yuma 500+N/AN/AN/A
1994Goodwin Mesa FireN/AN/ADesert / Juniper PinyonYavapai150+N/AN/AN/A
1995Dynamite FireBrush fire along the Verde River north of Rio Verde, Arizona.N/ADesert / RiverMaricopa900000
1995Geronimo Fire [47] Brush fire in the Superstition Wilderness southeast of Apache Junction.HumanDesertPinal2,200000
1996Allentown Fire [48] N/ALightningJuniper Pinyon WoodlandApache4,500000
1996Clark Peak Fire [49] Fire on Mount Graham burns territory of the endangered Mount Graham Red Squirrel and threatened the Mount Graham International Observatory.HumanFir PineGraham6,300000
1996Hochderffer Fire [50] Burned for two weeks and became the largest fire in the history of the Coconino National Forest.LightningPonderosa PineCoconino16,400000
1996Witch Well Fire [51] Fire 25 miles north of St. Johns, Arizona.LightningDesert ScrubApache680000
1999Harcuvar Fire [52] Lightning caused fire near Welden, Arizona in the Harcuvar Wilderness Area.LightningDesert La Paz 15,980000
1999N/ALightning caused fire in the Arizona Strip country, 40 miles southwest of St. George, Utah.LightningDesert / Juniper PinyonMohave11,000+000
1999N/ALightning caused fire west of Prescott.LightningGrassland / Juniper PinyonYavapai1,000000
1999Rainbow Fire [53] Fire north of Whiteriver, Arizona in the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.HumanPonderosa PineNavajo4,50017+00
2000Pumpkin Fire [54] Lightning caused fire burned for 17 days on Kendrick Peak.LightningPonderosa PineCoconino14,760100
2005Barfoot Fire [55] Small fire near Pine Canyon Camp in the Chiricahua Mountains.LightningMadrean Conifer-Oak / AspenCochise1,600000
2005Edge Complex Fire [56] Lightning caused fire south of Mount Ord between Sunflower, Arizona and Punkin Center, Arizona.LightningChaparral / Pine-OakGila71,635000
2005Twin Mills Fire [57] Lightning sparked fire burns 3 miles northwest of Golden Valley, Arizona.LightningGrassland / Forb / Pinyon-JuniperMohave12,000000
2009Hyde Fire [58] Slow moving fire in the Prescott National Forest.LightningMixed Conifer / ChaparralYavapai245000
2009Pioneer Fire [59] Near the Pioneer Pass Campground 8 miles south of Globe, Arizona.LightningPine-Oak / Ponderosa Pine / ChaparralGila1,375 acres000
2009Point FireThree miles northeast of Pine, Arizona.LightningPonderosa PineCoconino / Gila650+000
2009Reno Fire [60] Lightning caused fire on Gobbler Point 5 miles southwest of Alpine, Arizona.LightningPonderosa PineApache6,322000
2009Ruby Complex Fire [61] Two lightning sparked fires, the Game Reserve Fire, and the Ruby Fire merge in the Kaibab National Forest.LightningPonderosa / Pinyon-JuniperCoconino4,644+000
2009Water Wheel Fire [62] Fire started by campers at the Water Wheel Campground threatens the community of Beaver Valley.HumanPine-Oak Forest / ChaparralGila800000
2010Big Bug Fire [63] Small fire believed to be started by a dragging chain burned private property along State Route 69 near Mayer, Arizona.HumanN/AYavapai65000
201089 Mesa Fire [64] May have been started by Arizona Game and Fish employees welding in the area.HumanPonderosa PineCoconino523000
2010Eagle Rock Fire [65] Lightning caused fire about 15 miles northeast of Williams, Arizona.LightningPonderosa Pine / Mixed ConiferCoconino3,420000
2010Hardy Fire [63] Transient suspected of starting the fire.HumanPonderosa PineCoconino282000
2010 Schultz Fire Started by an abandoned campfire.HumanAspen, Spruce-fir Pine, Mixed ConiferCoconino15,000002
2011Arlene Fire [66] Fire 3 miles east of Lochiel, Arizona near Parker Canyon Lake.N/ADesert Grassland, Scrub OakCochise10,610000
2011Beale Fire [67] Lightning fire southwest of Kendrick Mountain.LightningPonderosa Pine / Aspen / Mixed ConiferCoconino5,100+000
2011Diamond Fire [68] Lightning ignited fire east of Whiteriver, Arizona, north of the Black River near 10 of Diamonds Ranch.LightningPonderosa Pine / Mixed Conifer / Pinyon-JuniperApache65010
2011Empire Fire [63] Brush fire 8 miles north of Sonoita, Arizona.HumanDesert GrasslandPima / Santa Cruz 2,009001
2011Empire II Fire [69] Fast moving grass fire north of Sonoita, Arizona in the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area.HumanDesert GrasslandPima / Santa Cruz600000
2011Greaterville Fire [70] Fire started by a welder in the Coronodo Nation Forest, 10 miles southeast of Green Valley, Arizona.HumanMadrean Encinal / Mixed Conifer / Pine-OakPima1,800000
2011Murphy Complex Fire [71] Three lightning sparked fires, the Bull Fire, Pena Fire, and Murphy Fire merge in the Tumacacori Mountains, 3 miles east of Arivaca, Arizona.LightningMadrean EncinalSanta Cruz68,078002
2011Point Fire [72] Lightning ignited fire on the north rim of the Grand Canyon.LightningPonderosa / Mixed ConiferCoconino4,195000
2011Tanner Fire [73] Lightning caused fire started on Armer Mountain in the Sierra Ancha Mountains south of Young, Arizona.LightningPonderosa Pine / Pine-OakGila5,500000
2012Apache Pass Fire [74] Small fire north of Fort Bowie.HumanDesert GrasslandCochise1,686000
2012257 Fire [75] Small fire 4 miles southeast of Superior, Arizona.N/ADesert ScrubPinal2,860000
2012Bull Flat Fire [76] Area recovering from the 2002 Rodeo-Chediski fire.LightningGrass, Brush, DeadwoodGila2,147000
2012Cooks Complex Fire [77] Three separate lightning ignited fires merge into one, 5 miles east of Black Canyon City, Arizona.LightningDesert ScrubYavapai7,299000
2012Fox Fire [78] Six miles south of Superior, Arizona.LightningDesert ScrubPinal7,500000
2012Grapevine Fire [79] Twenty miles southwest of Safford, Arizona.LightningDesert Grass, ShrubsGraham19,100000
2012Hobble Complex Fire [80] Four lightning sparked fires merge 35 miles south of St. George, Utah.LightningDesert Grass / Juniper PinyonMohave35,000000
2012Montezuma Fire [81] Fire on the Tohono O'odham Indian Resorvation in the Baboquivari Peak Wilderness.N/AMadrean Pinyon-JuniperPima1,700120
2012Plateau Fire [82] N/ALightningDesert Grass / Juniper PinyonMohave3,175000
2012Poco Fire [83] Six miles northeast of Young, Arizona, within miles of the recent Bull Flat Fire.HumanPonderosa PineGila11,950002
2012School Canyon Fire [84] Fire in the San Rafael Valley that began in Mexico and spread across the border into Arizona.HumanGrassland, Desert Scrub, Madrean EncinalCochise, Santa Cruz7,049000
2012Sunflower Fire [85] Started by an incendiary shotgun round along Sycamore Creek, near Sunflower, 30 miles north of Mesa. [86] [87] HumanChaparral, Grass, Pinyon, CypressMaricopa17,446000
2012West Side Complex Fire [88] Eight lightning started fires on the west side of the Kaibab Plateau in the Coconino National Forest north of the Kanab Creek Wilderness.LightningDesert Grass, Pinyon-Juniper WoodlandsMohave2,871000
2013Doce Fire [89] Fire of unknown origins burns a square mile of chaparral in the Granite Mountain Wilderness northwest of Prescott, Arizona.N/AJuniper Pinyon WoodlandYavapai850000
2015Finger Rock Fire [90] Rain caused a small fire in the Catalina Mountains to smoulder between 29 July 2015 and 5 August 2015. The fire reignited on 5 August as rain soaked vegetation dried. The fire was visible across much of metropolitan Tucson. The fire sparked interest in Tucson, in addition to some viral internet interest, [91] as the view was particularly dramatic at night.LightningChaparral, grassPima/Pinal750+N/A (fire self-contained in a rocky canyon and not actively fought [92] )N/AN/A
2016Tenderfoot Fire; Yarnell, Arizona [93] [94]
2019Tilbury FireOn June 14, 2019 a fire was reported near Kearny, AZ. Quick action by the Kearny Volunteer Fire Department prevented damage to nearby structures.Pinal22
2019Mountain FireThis human caused fire was reported on June 7, 2019 8 miles East of the Cave Creek Ranger District Office. It was located in the Tonto National Forest. As of June 18, 2019 it is 100% contained.Human7,470
2019Cellar Fire [95] This fire burned in the Prescott National Forest.LightningGrass, brushYavapai7,512
2019 Ikes Fire 16,416

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The Copper Canyon Fire was a wildfire that started near the town of Globe, Arizona on May 7, 2021. The fire burned a total of 2,875 acres (1,163 ha) and was fully contained on May 24, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Arizona wildfires</span> Wildfires in Arizona during spring and summer 2021

The 2021 Arizona wildfire season was a series of wildfires that burned across the state of Arizona, United States. Wildfires across the state burned 524,428 acres (212,228 ha) of land in at least 1,773 fires throughout the state, fueled in part by a drought, hot temperatures, and thunderstorms producing dry lightning. At one point in late June, over 20 active wildfires were burning across the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Backbone Fire</span> 2021 wildfire in Arizona

The Backbone Fire was a wildfire that started near Payson, Arizona on June 16, 2021. The fire burned 40,855 acres (16,533 ha) was fully contained on July 19, 2021.

The 2021 New Mexico wildfire season began in February 7, 2021. As of July 7, there have been at least 363 fires across the state that have burned at least 121,277 acres (49,079 ha).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire</span> 2022 wildfire in New Mexico

The 2022 Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire was the largest and most destructive wildfire in the history of the U.S. state of New Mexico. Burning 341,471 acres between early April and late June in the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the fire was the most significant of the record-breaking 2022 New Mexico wildfire season as well as the largest wildfire of 2022 in the contiguous United States. The fire destroyed at least 903 structures, including several hundred homes, and damaged 85 more, while threatening more than 12,000 other structures in the region.

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