List of Arizona wildfires

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Arizona Wildfires

Photograph of the Wallow Fire from space. (June 8, 2011)
Statistics

This is a list of known wildfires in Arizona.

Statistics

Wildland Prescribed
Year Fires Acres Fires Acres
2002[1] 3,041 700,101 1,201 95,576
2003[2] 2,876 192,538 450 111,460
2004[3] 2,602 219,900 657 66,199
2005[4] 4,027 975,456 452 111,452
2006[5] 3,274 177,427 1,576 75,325
2007[6] 2,240 101,381 363 98,593
2008[7] 1,850 85,496 413 132,951
2009[8] 2,371 263,358 2,097 147,531
2010[9] 1,517 74,445 203 67,799
2011[10] 1,969 1,036,935 160 55,069
2012[11] 1,684 216,090 243 80,959
2013[12] 1,449 100,836 90 32,605

Notable fires

Year Fire Name Description Cause Vegetation[13] County(ies) Size Structures Lost Deaths Injuries
1977 Radio Fire Fire scorched the peak of Mount Elden in Flagstaff, Arizona. Human Ponderosa Pine / Mixed conifer / Grassland Coconino 4,600 ac

7.2 sq.mi.

1,862 ha

0 0 0
1990 Dude Fire[14] Large fire on the Mogollon Rim that burned for 10 days. On June 25th, 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. Lightning Ponderosa Pine / Pine-Oak Woodland Coconino 28,000 ac

44 sq.mi.

11,331 ha

63 6 0
1995 Rio Fire[15][16] 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. Lightning Desert Maricopa 23,000 ac

36 sq.mi.

9,308 ha

0 0 0
1996 Lone Fir[17] Largest fire in the history of the Tonto National Forest burns in the Four Peaks Wilderness. The state's largest fire in 25 years. Human Desert Maricopa 61,300 ac

96 sq.mi.

24,800 ha

0 0 0
1996 May Horseshoe Fire Fire originated on Horseshoe Hill and spread NE. Human Ponderosa Pine / Grassland Coconino 8,100 ac

13.7 sq.mi.

3,280 ha

0 0 0
1996 June Hochderffer Fire Fire originated on Hochderffer Hills and spread NE. Lightning Ponderosa Pine / Mixed conifer / Grassland Coconino 16,680 ac

25 sq.mi.

6,520 ha

0 0 0
2000 May Pumpkin Fire Burned large portion of 10,423' (3177m) elevation Kendrick Peak. Lightning Ponderosa Pine / Mixed conifer Coconino 14,760 ac

23 sq.mi.

5,970 ha

0 0 0
2002 Rodeo–Chediski Fire The Rodeo fire was intentionally started by a seasonal firefighter looking for employment, the Chediski fire was started by a stranded driver trying to attract a news helicopter. Largest fire in Arizona history at the time. Human Ponderosa / Pine-Oak / Juniper-Pinyon Coconino / Gila / Navajo 468,638 ac

732 sq.mi.

189,651 ha

426 0 0
2003 Aspen Fire Fire on Mount Lemmon in the Santa Catalina Mountains burns through the town of Summerhaven, Arizona destroying 325 of 340 structures. Human Aspen / Pine-Oak / Conifer Pima / Pinal 84,750 ac

132 sq.mi.

34,297 ha

325+ 0 0
2004 Willow Fire[18] Large fire southwest of Payson, Arizona in the Mazatzal Wilderness. Lightning Desert Shrub / Chaparral Gila 119,500 ac

187 sq.mi.

48,360 ha

0 0 0
2005 Cave Creek Complex Fire Two lightning caused fires merge to create the third largest wildfire in Arizona history. Fire destroyed the historic Cave Creek Mistress Mine, and likely lead to the death of the largest recorded saguaro cactus. Lightning Desert Grass / Chaparral / Mixed Conifer Maricopa / Yavapai 243,950 ac

381 sq.mi.

98,723 ha

11+ 0 0
2005 Florida Fire Lightning caused fire spread throughout the Santa Rita Mountains, destroyed the upper Florida Canyon watershed with its old-growth douglas fir forest. Lightning Oak Woodland, Mixed Conifer Santa Cruz 23,183 ac

36 sq.mi.

9,382 ha

0 0 0
2006 Brins Mesa Fire On June 18, 2006, a wildfire, reportedly started by campers, began about one mile north of Sedona. The Brins Fire covered 4,317 acres on Brins Mesa, Wilson Mountain and in Oak Creek Canyon Human Ponderosa / Pine-Oak / Juniper-Pinyon Yavapai /Coconino 4317 ac 0 0 0
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 into downslope residential areas beginning July 2010, resulting in one fatality. Human Ponderosa Pine / Mixed conifer Coconino 15,075 ac

23.5 sq.mi.

6,100 ha

0 0 0
2011 Horseshoe 2 Fire Fifth largest fire in Arizona History burned the southeast flank of the Chiricahua Mountains in the Coronado National Forest. Human Desert Grassland, Scrub Oak, Pine Cochise 222,954 ac

348 sq.mi.

90,226 ha

23 0 0
2011 Monument Fire[19] Human caused fire burns through the Miller Wilderness in the Huachuca Mountains and into Sierra Vista, Arizona. Human Conifer-Oak / Pinyon-Juniper Cochise 30,526 ac

48 sq.mi.

12,353 ha

64 0 0
2011 Wallow Fire Largest fire in Arizona history burned 841 square miles of vegetation in the Apache National Forest near Alpine, Arizona. Human Ponderosa Pine / Gamble Oak / Sagebrush Shrubland Apache / Graham / Greenlee / Navajo 538,049 ac

841 sq.mi.

217,741 ha

72 0 16
2012 Gladiator Fire[20] Residential fire sparks large fire in the Prescott National Forest near Crown King, Arizona. Human Pine-Oak / Ponderosa Pine Yavapai 16,240 ac

25 sq.mi.

6,572 ha

6 0 8
2013 Yarnell Hill Fire[21][22] June 28 lightning started fire that grew rapidly due to high temperatures, low humidity and wind; near the town of Yarnell, about 85 miles NW of Phoenix; 19 firefighters killed; forced the closure of parts of state Route 89. Lightning Desert Grass, Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands Yavapai 8,500 ac

13 sq.mi.

3,440 ha[23]

129 19 22
2014 Slide Fire[24] On May 20, 2014, around 4pm, a wildfire was reported just north of Slide Rock State Park. The fire was 100 percent contained on June 4, 2014, with 21,227 acres burned. Total personnel included over 1,230 firefighters, 50 crews, 29 engines and 9 helicopters Human Ponderosa / Pine-Oak / Juniper-Pinyon Coconino 21,227 ac 0 0 0
2016 Baker Canyon Fire Unknown Brush Cochise 7,980 ac 0 0 0
2016 Topock Fire Human Brush Mohave 2,200 ac 0 0 0
(May 15, 2011) Photograph of the Horseshoe 2 Fire from the International Space Station. (Original Photo)

Lesser known fires

Year Fire Name Description Cause Vegetation[13] County(ies) Size (acres) Structures Lost Deaths Injuries
1990 Big Bug Fire Small fire started by a loggers burning vehicle. Human N/A Yavapai 100 0 0 0
1990 Bray Fire Small fire on the Mogollon Rim near Bray Creek Ranch. N/A N/A Coconino N/A N/A N/A N/A
1990 Doce Fire[25] Fire of unknown origins burns a square mile of chaparral in the Granite Mountain Wilderness northwest of Prescott, Arizona. N/A Juniper Pinyon Woodland Yavapai 850 0 0 0
1990 Encinosa Fire[26] Small fire along U.S. Route 89 near Oak Creek Canyon. N/A Forest Coconino N/A N/A N/A N/A
1991 Geronimo Fire[27] Small fire caused by a Canadian hiker's unattended campfire 25 miles southwest of Flagstaff, Arizona in the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness. Human High Desert / River Coconino 85+ 0 0 0
1991 N/A Fire about two miles east of Sunset Crater. N/A Forest Coconino 450 0 0 0
1992 Troon Fire Dry conditions helped fuel a brush fire near Troon Country Club. N/A Desert Maricopa 3,000 0 0 0
1994 Warm Springs Fire[28] N/A N/A Desert Mohave 7,000+ N/A N/A N/A
1994 Black Mesa Fire N/A N/A Desert Yuma 500+ N/A N/A N/A
1994 Goodwin Mesa Fire N/A N/A Desert / Juniper Pinyon Yavapai 150+ N/A N/A N/A
1995 Dynamite Fire Brush fire along the Verde River north of Rio Verde, Arizona. N/A Desert / River Maricopa 900 0 0 0
1995 Geronimo Fire[29] Brush fire in the Superstition Wilderness southeast of Apache Junction. Human Desert Pinal 2,200 0 0 0
1996 Allentown Fire[30] N/A Lightning Juniper Pinyon Woodland Apache 4,500 0 0 0
1996 Clark Peak Fire[31] Fire on Mount Graham burns territory of the endangered Mount Graham Red Squirrel and threatened the Mount Graham International Observatory. Human Fir Pine Graham 6,300 0 0 0
1996 Hochderffer Fire[32] Burned for two weeks and became the largest fire in the history of the Coconino National Forest. Lightning Ponderosa Pine Coconino 16,400 0 0 0
1996 Witch Well Fire[33] Fire 25 miles north of St. Johns, Arizona. Lightning Desert Scrub Apache 680 0 0 0
1999 Harcuvar Fire[34] Lightning caused fire near Welden, Arizona in the Harcuvar Wilderness Area. Lightning Desert La Paz 15,980 0 0 0
1999 N/A Lightning caused fire in the Arizona Strip country, 40 miles southwest of St. George, Utah. Lightning Desert / Juniper Pinyon Mohave 11,000+ 0 0 0
1999 N/A Lightning caused fire west of Prescott. Lightning Grassland / Juniper Pinyon Yavapai 1,000 0 0 0
1999 Rainbow Fire[35] Fire north of Whiteriver, Arizona in the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. Human Ponderosa Pine Navajo 4,500 17+ 0 0
2000 Pumpkin Fire[36] Lightning caused fire burned for 17 days on Kendrick Peak. Lightning Ponderosa Pine Coconino 14,760 1 0 0
2005 Barfoot Fire[37] Small fire near Pine Canyon Camp in the Chiricahua Mountains. Lightning Madrean Conifer-Oak / Aspen Cochise 1,600 0 0 0
2005 Edge Complex Fire[38] Lightning caused fire south of Mount Ord between Sunflower, Arizona and Punkin Center, Arizona. Lightning Chaparral / Pine-Oak Gila 71,635 0 0 0
2005 Twin Mills Fire[39] Lightning sparked fire burns 3 miles northwest of Golden Valley, Arizona. Lightning Grassland / Forb / Pinyon-Juniper Mohave 12,000 0 0 0
2009 Hyde Fire[40] Slow moving fire in the Prescott National Forest. Lightning Mixed Conifer / Chaparral Yavapai 245 0 0 0
2009 Pioneer Fire[41] Near the Pioneer Pass Campground 8 miles south of Globe, Arizona. Lightning Pine-Oak / Ponderosa Pine / Chaparral Gila 1,375 acres 0 0 0
2009 Point Fire Three miles northeast of Pine, Arizona. Lightning Ponderosa Pine Coconino / Gila 650+ 0 0 0
2009 Reno Fire[42] Lightning caused fire on Gobbler Point 5 miles southwest of Alpine, Arizona. Lightning Ponderosa Pine Apache 6,322 0 0 0
2009 Ruby Complex Fire[43] Two lightning sparked fires, the Game Reserve Fire, and the Ruby Fire merge in the Kaibab National Forest. Lightning Ponderosa / Pinyon-Juniper Coconino 4,644+ 0 0 0
2009 Water Wheel Fire[44] Fire started by campers at the Water Wheel Campground threatens the community of Beaver Valley. Human Pine-Oak Forest / Chaparral Gila 800 0 0 0
2010 Big Bug Fire[45] Small fire believed to be started by a dragging chain burned private property along State Route 69 near Mayer, Arizona. Human N/A Yavapai 65 0 0 0
2010 89 Mesa Fire[46] May have been started by Arizona Game and Fish employees welding in the area. Human Ponderosa Pine Coconino 523 0 0 0
2010 Eagle Rock Fire[47] Lightning caused fire about 15 miles northeast of Williams, Arizona. Lightning Ponderosa Pine / Mixed Conifer Coconino 3,420 0 0 0
2010 Hardy Fire[45] Transient suspected of starting the fire. Human Ponderosa Pine Coconino 282 0 0 0
2010 Schultz Fire Started by an abandoned campfire. Human Aspen, Spruce-fir Pine, Mixed Conifer Coconino 15,000 0 0 2
2011 Arlene Fire[48] Fire 3 miles east of Lochiel, Arizona near Parker Canyon Lake. N/A Desert Grassland, Scrub Oak Cochise 10,610 0 0 0
2011 Beale Fire[49] Lightning fire southwest of Kendrick Mountain. Lightning Ponderosa Pine / Aspen / Mixed Conifer Coconino 5,100+ 0 0 0
2011 Diamond Fire[50] Lightning ignited fire east of Whiteriver, Arizona, north of the Black River near 10 of Diamonds Ranch. Lightning Ponderosa Pine / Mixed Conifer / Pinyon-Juniper Apache 65 0 1 0
2011 Empire Fire[45] Brush fire 8 miles north of Sonoita, Arizona. Human Desert Grassland Pima / Santa Cruz 2,009 0 0 1
2011 Empire II Fire[51] Fast moving grass fire north of Sonoita, Arizona in the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. Human Desert Grassland Pima / Santa Cruz 600 0 0 0
2011 Greaterville Fire[52] Fire started by a welder in the Coronodo Nation Forest, 10 miles southeast of Green Valley, Arizona. Human Madrean Encinal / Mixed Conifer / Pine-Oak Pima 1,800 0 0 0
2011 Murphy Complex Fire[53] Three lightning sparked fires, the Bull Fire, Pena Fire, and Murphy Fire merge in the Tumacacori Mountains, 3 miles east of Arivaca, Arizona. Lightning Madrean Encinal Santa Cruz 68,078 0 0 2
2011 Point Fire[54] Lightning ignited fire on the north rim of the Grand Canyon. Lightning Ponderosa / Mixed Conifer Coconino 4,195 0 0 0
2011 Tanner Fire[55] Lightning caused fire started on Armer Mountain in the Sierra Ancha Mountains south of Young, Arizona. Lightning Ponderosa Pine / Pine-Oak Gila 5,500 0 0 0
2012 Apache Pass Fire[56] Small fire north of Fort Bowie. Human Desert Grassland Cochise 1,686 0 0 0
2012 257 Fire[57] Small fire 4 miles southeast of Superior, Arizona. N/A Desert Scrub Pinal 2,860 0 0 0
2012 Bull Flat Fire[58] Area recovering from the 2002 Rodeo-Chediski fire. Lightning Grass, Brush, Deadwood Gila 2,147 0 0 0
2012 Cooks Complex Fire[59] Three separate lightning ignited fires merge into one, 5 miles east of Black Canyon City, Arizona. Lightning Desert Scrub Yavapai 7,299 0 0 0
2012 Fox Fire[60] Six miles south of Superior, Arizona. Lightning Desert Scrub Pinal 7,500 0 0 0
2012 Grapevine Fire[61] Twenty miles southwest of Safford, Arizona. Lightning Desert Grass, Shrubs Graham 19,100 0 0 0
2012 Hobble Complex Fire[62] Four lightning sparked fires merge 35 miles south of St. George, Utah. Lightning Desert Grass / Juniper Pinyon Mohave 35,000 0 0 0
2012 Montezuma Fire[63] Fire on the Tohono O'odham Indian Resorvation in the Baboquivari Peak Wilderness. N/A Madrean Pinyon-Juniper Pima 1,700 1 2 0
2012 Plateau Fire[64] N/A Lightning Desert Grass / Juniper Pinyon Mohave 3,175 0 0 0
2012 Poco Fire[65] Six miles northeast of Young, Arizona, within miles of the recent Bull Flat Fire. Human Ponderosa Pine Gila 11,950 0 0 2
2012 School Canyon Fire[66] Fire in the San Rafael Valley that began in Mexico and spread across the border into Arizona. Human Grassland, Desert Scrub, Madrean Encinal Cochise, Santa Cruz 7,049 0 0 0
2012 Sunflower Fire[67] Started by an incendiary shotgun round along Sycamore Creek, near Sunflower, 30 miles north of Mesa.[68][69] Human Chaparral, Grass, Pinyon, Cypress Maricopa 17,446 0 0 0
2012 West Side Complex Fire[70] Eight lightning started fires on the west side of the Kaibab Plateau in the Coconino National Forest north of the Kanab Creek Wilderness. Lightning Desert Grass, Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands Mohave 2,871 0 0 0

References

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