2024 Arizona wildfires

2024 Arizona wildfires
The Wildcat Fire, which burned in the Tonto National Forest
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The 2024 Arizona wildfire season is an ongoing series of wildfires that have been burning throughout the U.S. state of Arizona.

Background

Historically, while peak fire times were from June to July before monsoon season, wildfires now occur at any time of year. Wildfire conditions are influenced by heavy drought and dryness in the state, but snowmelt in the mountains leads to vegetation growth. With decreasing precipitation in spring, fires tend to start earlier. Monsoons affect fire conditions, with above-average monsoons hindering fires and below-average allowing them to spread. Dryness common in Arizona quickly dries out vegetation, allowing dangerous fire conditions.[1]

Summary

In the winter from 2023-24, above-average precipitation lead to vegetation growth, especially in Maricopa and Pinal counties, providing fuel for the fires. This contributed to a 54% increase in wildfires in Pinal County from last year. Above-average spring temperatures led to an early start to wildfires in Central and Southern Arizona, but snowpack in the northern portion of the state held off fires. A late, below-average monsoon and warm, dry conditions continued into fall and winter months, allowing fires to last late into the year. September and October were some of the hottest months in Arizona. Prolonged warm and dry conditions that lasted into December contributed to the Horton Fire.[2]

The dry vegetation was influenced by a drought that had come from previous years. The number of fires and acreage had increased since previous years, including a 15% increase of wildfires since 2023.[2]

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[a] Notes Ref
Wolf Coconino9,896April 29May 23[4][5][6]
Flying Bucket Maricopa2,795May 6May 12[7]
Toyo Gila and Graham1,778May 10
May 24
[8]
Wildcat Maricopa14,402May 18June 3[9]
Rocky Graham1,597May 23May 27[10]
Refuge Yuma and La Paz1,041May 26
July 10
While not fully contained, local fire crews have allowed the fire to smolder for the coming weeks.[11]
Spring Maricopa4,097June 1June 5[12]
Adams Maricopa5,029June 2June 10[13]
Top Gila3,292June 9
June 18
[14]
Foote Greenlee4,558June 14September 3[15]
Sayer Coconino1,049June 16June 23[16]
Boulder View Maricopa3,711June 27July 16Human-caused (estimated cause) Most people within the range of 2–3 miles had to evacuate.

Multiple emergency alerts were sent out (approx: 7+) (more accurate confirmed: 5+) during the first few weeks of the active fire.

 [17]
Lockett Coconino2,782June 29Lightning-caused[18]
Buckhorn Graham1,006July 10August 10[19]
Watch Gila & Graham2,162July 10July 17Destroyed 21 buildings and 13 other structures, caused by suspected arson[20]
Freeman Pinal32,568July 11July 18[21]
Rabbit Coconino3,016July 17July 26[22]
Rock Gila4,317July 22
75% contained
[23]
Sand Stone Maricopa27,390July 25August 22[24]
Waterman Yavapai3,059July 25July 31[25]
Skeleton Yavapai24,034August 3August 24[26]
Clair Maricopa2,170August 4August 22[27]
Bartlett Maricopa6,161August 4August 22[28]
Sheep Gila2,483August 6August 22[29]
Element Mohave5,364August 6August 19[30]
Preacher Gila3,161August 29
0% contained
Black Mesa 2 Yavapai2,600August 31September 8[31]
Long Gulch Yavapai1,100August 31September 23[32]
West Gila1,782September 1
0% contained
[33]
Wood Pinal7,211September 1September 13[34]
Siphon Pinal15,527September 10September 27[35]
Point Maricopa4,168September 10
0% contained
[36]
Brigade Coconino1,812September 21October 9[37]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Containment means that fire crews have established and secured control lines around the fire's perimeter. These lines are artificial barriers, like trenches or cleared vegetation, designed to stop the fire's spread, or natural barriers like rivers. Containment reflects progress in managing the fire but does not necessarily mean the fire is starved of fuel, under control, or put out.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Arizona Fire Season: In-Depth Guide". wfca.com. Western Fire Chiefs Association. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Wildland Fire Report 2024" (PDF). dffm.az.gov. Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  3. ↑ "What containment and other wildfire related terms mean". Los Angeles: KCAL-TV. September 12, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Wolf Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Wolf Fire operations wrap up following 10,000 acres of forest treatment". AZEIN. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  6. ↑ "National Fire News". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Flying Bucket Fire south of Goodyear 100% contained; 2,795 acres burned". azfamily. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Toyo Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Wildcat Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Rocky Incident". Arizona Wildfire Dashboard- Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Refuge Incident". InciWeb. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Spring Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Adams Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Top Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Foote Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Sayer Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Boulder View Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Lockett Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Buckthorn Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Watch Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Freeman Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Rabbit Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Rock Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Sand Stone Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Watchman Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  26. ↑ "Skeleton Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Clair Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  28. ↑ "Bartlett Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  29. ↑ "Sheep Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Element Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  31. ↑ "Black Mesa 2 Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Long Gulch Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  33. ↑ "West Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  34. ↑ "Wood Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  35. ↑ "Siphon Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  36. ↑ "Point Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  37. ↑ "Brigade Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
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