Arizona's wildfire seasons got off to a great start this year. Although it is still early, we can expect a little more extreme fires this year than last year. It is probable that there will be another major wildfire in 2021. Wetter weather was a blessing in disguise as the season got off on a positive note.
The Huachuca Mountains' Miller Peak Wilderness and Tonto National forest's Catalina Mountains have been the most notable wildfires of the year. Both fires were caused by humans. They quickly spread and caused extensive damage to the surrounding area. These wildfires also attracted much media attention. This created interest in Tucson, as well other communities within the region.
19 people died in another Arizona fire caused by lightning strikes. It was the deadliest forest fire ever recorded in Arizona. The fire was fought by a number of state and local agencies. Many non-governmental organizations contributed also to the recovery of the community.
In the aftermath of the Yarnell wildfire, many residents were forced to evacuate their homes. The Yarnell community was impacted by the loss of lives and the significant disruption of daily life. A nonprofit called the Yarnell Hill Recovery Group applied for grant funding to support the community's efforts. They were able to get $400,000 from Arizona Community Foundation.
The Pipeline Fire has been contained to 100% as of July 28th and has now burned 26,532 acres in northern Arizona. This is the biggest fire in the region. Since the wildfire was fueled by high temperatures and a lightning strike, the wildfire spread quickly. Some of the fires' fuels were cottonwoods, salt cedar, and cottonwoods.
Other Arizona wildfires have also burned through the Superstition Wildernesses west of Payson. The Superstition and Mazatzal fires started in dry conditions. From its intersection with the NFSR 41186, National Forest System Road 39 was shut down on June 13.
On June 23, Chediski and Rodeo wildfires also merged. A seasonal firefighter in search of a job set the rodeofire. They destroyed 300,000 acres when the fires merged.
Despite the extent of the damage, there are still plenty of resources to help firefighters keep the flames under check. Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, (ADEQ), is one of the agencies that provides this assistance. Although the ADEQ is not authorized to extinguish wildfires, it can provide information for fire managers.
There are a number of federal and state agencies that help to protect Arizona's forests and communities from wildfires. Federal agencies include U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (USLM). The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management include state agencies.
A federal investigation is underway to determine why the YH Fire started. This investigation is currently being conducted by the United States Forest Service and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health. The YH Fire Serious Accident Investigation Report has more information.