2020 Arizona wildfires

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]

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)
Costunknown
Deaths1 indirect
Non-fatal injuries0
Season
← 2019
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)

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

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

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
BasinMohave38,804May 10May 21Lightning-caused[8][9]
East DesertMaricopa1,492May 17May 22Human-caused[10]
JackrabbitMaricopa2,034May 25May 26Human-caused[11][12]
RangePinal3,286May 29June 1Cause unknown[13]
OcotilloMaricopa980May 30June 2Human-caused; 20 buildings destroyed in Cave Creek[4]
SawtoothPinal24,729May 30June 19Lightning-caused[14]
SunsetYavapai3,964May 31June 1Human-caused; Forced closure of I-17 in both directions on May 31[15][12]
TortolitaPinal3,321June 5June 11Lightning-caused[16][12]
BighornPima119,987June 5July 23Lightning-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 RiverGila30,408June 5June 25Lightning-caused[19]
EmigrantCochise4,756June 6June 14Lightning-caused[20][12]
Dry LakeGraham4,369June 6June 24Lightning-caused[21][12]
BringhamGreenlee23,142June 6July 29Lightning-caused; 36-mile closure of US 191
2 structures destroyed		[22][12]
MangumCoconino71,450June 8July 27Closure 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]
BushMaricopa193,455June 13July 6Human-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]
CentralMaricopa4,499June 20June 30Human-caused[25][26]
AquilaMaricopa893June 23June 26Human-caused; 6 structures destroyed[27][28]
Painted WagonMaricopa490June 25June 27human-caused; 5 structures destroyed[27][29]
Wood Springs 2Apache12,861June 27July 11Lightning-caused; 7 structures destroyed in Navajo Nation[30][12]
BouldersPinal1,011June 30July 4[31]
PollesGila628July 3July 23Lightning-caused; A helicopter supporting firefighting efforts crashed on July 7, taking the life of pilot Bryan Boatman.
The incident is under investigation.		[32][33]
MonumentCoconino1,785July 5July 30Lightning-caused[34][12]
BurenMaricopa2,800July 11July 14Human-caused[34][12]
NavarroPima2,306July 11July 14Lightning-caused[35][34]
JacksonGraham2,946July 11July 22Lightning-caused[36]
Blue River 2Gila28,051July 13July 27Lightning-caused[37][12]
ValleyGraham29,639July 13July 18Lightningt-caused; 2 structures destroyed[38][12]
PineYavapai2,184July 14August 13Lightning-caused[39][12]
ThumbCoconino8,354July 16July 26Lightning-caused[40]
Pine HollowCoconino11,405July 29August 6Lightning-caused[41]
Cassadore SpringsGila21,482August 1August 19Lightning-caused, 1 structure destroyed
Kean Fire merged into the Cassadore Springs Fire on August 3		[12]
Bumble BeeYavapai2,993August 7August 12Human-caused[42]
GoldfieldMaricopa1,970August 10August 12Human-caused[12]
KlausCochise4,864August 10August 24Lightning-caused[43] [44]
Wood CanyonCochise2,320August 12August 17Lightning-caused[12]
QuailGila2,064August 15August 19Lightning-caused[12]
RidgeMohave3,079August 16September 2Lightning-caused[45]
High CreekGraham1,642August 16August 20Lightning-caused[12]
GriffinGila61,821August 17September 6Lightning-caused; Gin Fire merged with the Griffin Fire on August 21[46] [47]
SaltGila21,670August 17September 6Lightning-caused[48] [47]
RollsMaricopa1,350August 18August 24Lightning-caused[49]
LoferApache1,256August 18September 22Lightning-caused[50][12]
Black CanyonMohave7,897August 18September 5Lightning-caused[12]
ConstellationYavapai12,252August 20August 28Lightning-caused[51]
SuperstitionPinal9,539August 20September 24Lightning-caused[52]
RockhouseGila19,506August 21September 15Lightning-caused[53][12]
MedicineGila8,930August 22September 9Lightning-caused; 1 structure destroyed[54][12]
BozarthYavapai5,000August 24September 15Lightning-caused[55]
MeddlerGila4,452August 24August 30Lightning-caused[56] [47]
Pilot KnobYavapai11,000August 24August 31Lightning-caused[57][12]
HiddenGila6,106August 25September 15Lightning-caused[58][12]
JuniperGraham2,867August 27September 1Lightning-caused[59]
BoltMaricopa1,420August 28September 4Lightning-caused[60] [47]
LightGraham937August 28September 10Human-caused; 3 structures destroyed[12]
Cow CanyonGreenlee35,371September 3November 27Lightning-caused[12]
SearsMaricopa14,476September 25October 11Cause unknown; 13 structures destroyed[12]
EspinosaPima1,834October 5October 16Human-caused[12]
EncinosPima14,905October 6October 24Human-caused[12]
HorseYavapai9,537October 15October 31Human-caused[12]
HabaneroPinal3,128October 21October 24Human-caused[12]
TrailYavapai1,674October 24November 2Human-caused[12]
Three HillsPima1,350October 27October 30Human-caused[12]
Round ValleyCochise1,587October 31November 5Human-caused[12]

See also

References
  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. "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. "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.
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  16. "AZ Dept. of Forestry & Fire Management: Tortolita Fire 100% contained". KVOA – News 4 Tucson. June 11, 2020.
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  18. "Arizona Wildfire Closes North Rim of Grand Canyon; In Southern Arizona, Bighorn Wildfire Continues To Grow". The Weather Channel. June 12, 2020.
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  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.
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  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.
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  34. "Open Incidents – WildCAD Arizona Dispatch Center". WildWeb. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020.
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  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.
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  46. "Griffin Fire Information". InciWeb. August 17, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  47. "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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