2024 Arizona wildfires

An overview of major wildfires in Arizona during the year 2024

2024 Arizona wildfires

The Wildcat Fire, which burned in the Tonto National Forest

Statistics[1]
Total fires| 2,162
Total area| ≥280,000 acres (110,000 ha)
Season

← 2023

2025 →

The 2024 Arizona wildfires were a series of wildfires that burned throughout the state of Arizona during the calendar year 2024.

## Background

[edit]

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.[2]

## Summary

[edit]

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.[3]

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.[3]

## List of wildfires

[edit]

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

|
|
|
|
|
|

Rock  | Gila | 4,306 | April 11 |  |  | [4]
Wolf  | Coconino | 9,896 | April 29 | May 23 |  | [5][6][7]
Flying Bucket  | Maricopa | 2,795 | May 6 | May 12 |  | [8]
Toyo  | Gila, Graham | 1,778 | May 10 | May 24 |  | [9]
Wildcat | Maricopa | 14,402 | May 18 | June 3 |  | [10]
Rocky  | Graham | 1,597 | May 23 | May 27 |  | [11]
Refuge  | Yuma, La Paz | 1,041 | May 26 | July 10 | While not fully contained, local fire crews have allowed the fire to smolder for the coming weeks. | [12]
Spring  | Maricopa | 4,097 | June 1 | June 5 |  | [13]
Adams | Maricopa | 5,029 | June 2 | June 10 |  | [14]
Top  | Gila | 3,292 | June 9 | June 18 |  | [15]
Foote  | Greenlee | 4,558 | June 14 | September 3 |  | [16]
Sayer  | Coconino | 1,049 | June 16 | June 23 |  | [17]
Boulder View  | Maricopa | 3,711 | June 27 | July 16 | Human-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.

| [18]
Lockett  | Coconino | 2,782 | June 29 | July 10 | Lightning-caused | [19][20]
Buckhorn  | Graham | 1,006 | July 10 | August 10 |  | [21]
Watch | Gila, Graham | 2,162 | July 10 | July 17 | Destroyed 21 buildings and 13 other structures, caused by suspected arson | [22]
Freeman | Pinal | 32,568 | July 11 | July 18 |  | [23]
Rabbit  | Coconino | 3,016 | July 17 | July 26 |  | [24]
Adessa  | Pinal | 1,424 | July 24 | July 31 |  | [25]
Sand Stone  | Maricopa | 27,390 | July 25 | August 22 |  | [26]
Waterman | Yavapai | 3,059 | July 25 | July 31 |  | [27]
Summit  | Graham | 5,905 | July 27 | August 2 |  | [28]
Brushy  | Graham | 8,284 | July 27 | August 3 |  | [29]
Skeleton  | Yavapai | 24,034 | August 3 | August 24 |  | [30]
Clair  | Maricopa | 2,170 | August 4 | August 22 |  | [31]
Bartlett  | Maricopa | 6,161 | August 4 | August 22 |  | [32]
Sheep  | Gila | 2,483 | August 6 | August 22 |  | [33]
Element  | Mohave | 5,364 | August 6 | August 19 |  | [34]
Preacher  | Gila | 3,167 | August 28 | September 23 |  | [35]
Black Mesa 2  | Yavapai | 2,605 | August 31 | September 8 |  | [36]
Long Gulch  | Yavapai | 1,227 | August 31 | September 23 |  | [37]
West  | Gila | 15,074 | September 1 |  |  | [38]
Wood  | Pinal | 7,211 | September 1 | September 13 |  | [39]
Siphon  | Pinal | 15,527 | September 10 | September 27 |  | [40]
Point  | Maricopa | 5,154 | September 10 | September 29 |  | [41]
Brigade  | Coconino | 1,812 | September 21 | October 9 |  | [42]
Flood  | Pinal | 4,400 | October 9 | October 16  |  | [43]
Vein  | Pima, Santa Cruz | 1,291 | October 12 | October 14 |  | [44]
Horton  | Gila, Coconino | 8,346 | December 15 | February 4, 2025 |  | [45]

Perimeters of 2024 Arizona wildfires (map data)

## See also

[edit]

* 2024 California wildfires
* 2024 Colorado wildfires
* 2024 Idaho wildfires
* 2024 Nevada wildfires
* 2024 New Mexico wildfires
* 2024 Utah wildfires

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Arizona Fire Information". dffm.az.gov. Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
2. ^ "Arizona Fire Season: In-Depth Guide". wfca.com. Western Fire Chiefs Association. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
3. ^ a b "Wildland Fire Report 2024" (PDF). dffm.az.gov. Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
4. ^ "Rock Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
5. ^ "Wolf Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved May 13, 2024.[dead link]
6. ^ "Wolf Fire operations wrap up following 10,000 acres of forest treatment". AZEIN. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
7. ^ "National Fire News". National Interagency Fire Center. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
8. ^ "Flying Bucket Fire south of Goodyear 100% contained; 2,795 acres burned". azfamily. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
9. ^ "Toyo Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
10. ^ "Wildcat Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
11. ^ "Rocky Incident". Arizona Wildfire Dashboard- Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
12. ^ "Refuge Incident". InciWeb. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
13. ^ "Spring Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
14. ^ "Adams Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
15. ^ "Top Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
16. ^ "Foote Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
17. ^ "Sayer Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
18. ^ "Boulder View Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
19. ^ "Lockett Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
20. ^ "Lockett Fire final update". fs.usda.gov. United States Forest Service. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
21. ^ "Buckthorn Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
22. ^ "Watch Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
23. ^ "Freeman Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
24. ^ "Rabbit Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
25. ^ "Adessa Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
26. ^ "Sand Stone Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
27. ^ "Watchman Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
28. ^ "Summit Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
29. ^ "Brushy Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
30. ^ "Skeleton Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
31. ^ "Clair Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
32. ^ "Bartlett Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
33. ^ "Sheep Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
34. ^ "Element Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
35. ^ "2024 - Preacher Fire - TNF". InciWeb. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
36. ^ "Black Mesa 2 Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
37. ^ "Long Gulch Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
38. ^ "West Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
39. ^ "Wood Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
40. ^ "Siphon Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
41. ^ "Point Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
42. ^ "Brigade Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
43. ^ "Flood Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
44. ^ "Vein Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
45. ^ "Horton Fire". Watch Duty. Retrieved December 15, 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Arizona wildfires

2000–2012|

* Rodeo-Chediski (2002)
* Aspen (2003)
* Cave Creek Complex (2005)
* Schultz (2010)
* Horseshoe 2 (2011)
* Wallow (2011)

2013|

* Soldier Basin
* Doce
* Yarnell Hill
* Dean Park

2014|

* Skunk
* Basin
* Slide
* Galahad
* San Juan
* Oak
* Sitgreaves Complex
* Hammer
* McRae

2015|

* Guadalupe
* Camillo
* Whitetail
* Sawmill
* Hog
* Jar Complex
* Springs
* SA Hill
* Rattlesnake
* Playground

2016|

* Baker Canyon
* Topock
* Juniper
* Jack
* Mule Ridge
* Cedar
* Brown
* Fuller
* Rim

2017|

* Sawmill
* Snake Ridge
* Boundary
* Frye
* Hilltop
* Goodwin
* Burro
* Brooklyn
* Hyde

2018|

* Rattlesnake
* Tinder
* Cumero
* Stubbs
* OBI

2019|

* Maroon
* Coldwater
* Woodbury
* Gap
* Castle
* Bronco Gulch
* Huck
* Ikes
* Sheridan

2020|

* Bighorn
* Maricopa County wildfires
* Bush
* Central
* Blue River
* Mangum
* Wood Springs 2
* Polles
* Valley
* Blue River 2
* Griffin
* Cow Canyon

2021|

* Copper Canyon
* Tussock
* Mescal
* Telegraph
* Slate
* Pinnacle
* Bear
* Horton
* Backbone
* Rafael
* Walnut
* Tiger

2022|

* Tunnel
* June 2022 Flagstaff wildfires

2023|

* Flying V

2024|

* Wildcat
* Adams
* Watch
* Freeman
* Waterman
* Element

2025|

* Greer

* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

Wildfires in 2024

Asia|

* Russia
* Turkey

Europe|

* Greece
* Attica region
* Portugal
* Madeira
* Mainland

North America|

| Canada|

* Jasper

|

United States|

* Arizona
* Adams
* Element
* Freeman
* Watch
* Waterman
* Wildcat
* California
* Airport
* Basin
* Boise
* Borel
* Coffee Pot
* Corral
* Horseshoe
* Lake
* Line
* Nixon
* Park
* Pedro
* Point
* Post
* Thompson
* Colorado
* Alexander Mountain
* Bucktail
* Spruce Creek
* Florida
* Idaho
* Montana
* Nevada
* Davis
* Pizona
* New Mexico
* Salt
* South Fork
* Oregon
* Durkee
* Little Yamsay
* Northeast
* Texas
* Smokehouse Creek
* Utah
* Virginia
* Washington
* Pioneer
* Retreat
* Swawilla
* Wyoming

South America|

* Argentina
* Brazil
* Chile
* Colombia
* Ecuador
* Peru

Oceania|

* Australia
* 2023–24
* New Zealand
* Port Hills

* ◀ 2023
* Category
* 2025 ▶

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