There have been more wildfires so far this year in Arizona than in all of 2023. More acres have burned as well. Unusual fire behavior during the most recent wildfire has officials concerned for the upcoming holiday.
Crews have mostly contained the human-caused Boulder View Fire, which is burning through scrub and brush in north Scottsdale east of Carefree.
Tiffany Davila with the state department of forestry and fire management says, when it sparked last week, the fire was unusually active.
“The fire behavior was very extreme, they had 20 to 40 foot flame lengths," Davila said. "And that was overnight. That’s when we’re typically used to seeing those fires kind of calm down and lay down for the crew. Then it didn’t. It produced extreme fire behavior and very active throughout most of the night."
With heightened fire risk throughout the state, Davila recommends leaving fireworks up to the professionals this July 4.
Fireworks are always illegal on state trust or federal land, and in places with fire restrictions.
