Dec. 17: Soap Fire grows to 600 acres while Horton Fire burns more than 400 acres
Two wildfires broke out in northern Arizona over the weekend, serving as a reminder that wildfire season is a year-round issue.
Andy Nordquist with the Tonto National Forest says proper staffing and resources are also a challenge around this time.
“Our staffing for the forest service and other agencies is adjusting as time goes on to these year-round seasons," Nordquist said. "But at the end of the day when you’ve had a long, we’ve had a very long hot fire season on the Tonto [National Forest] and eventually people need a break here and there. So that’s why this time of year can be a challenge, but we’re getting what we need for now.”
The Soap Fire northwest of Black Canyon City had grown to more than 600 acres on Tuesday.
The dry winter has helped the Horton Fire grow more than 400 acres, since Saturday, in the rugged terrain around the Sitgreaves and Tonto National forests.
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The risk of human-caused wildfire is high due to hot and dry conditions. Certain activities are now restricted within state trust lands in Gila, Maricopa and Pinal counties, as well as the Tonto National Forest. -
"Suppression is always going to be there," Chief Brian Fennessy told the Mountain West News Bureau. "But we're not going to suppress our way out of this situation." -
A new analysis of public federal workforce data shows about 5,800 fewer workers at public lands agencies in 2025 compared to the year before. -
Arizona Public Service has nearly 40 active AI smoke-detection cameras and plans to have 71 by summer's end, and the state’s fire agency has deployed seven of its own. -
Smoke from the fire near Buckeye has blown into the rest of the Valley since it started burning Saturday.
