Yuma, Arizona (AZ Family) — Fire crews were able to extinguish two wildfires that broke out northeast of Yuma Tuesday night.
The Cattle Fire started Tuesday night. Fort Yuma Rivieraapproximately 11 miles northeast of Yuma. As of Monday evening, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management announced that 48 acres had been burned on the Arizona side of the Colorado River bed, with progress halted overnight.
As of 7 p.m. Monday, the Cattle Fire is 48 acres and 100% contained.
About an hour after the cattle fire broke out, a second fire was discovered about a half-mile due south. The Ranch Fire is estimated to be 65 acres in size and is burning near an RV park and mobile home park. As of 7pm Monday, it was 100% contained.
About 35 residents of an RV park were evacuated as the fire moved closer to their homes. A temporary evacuation center has been opened Paradise Casino on Ketchum Drive in Yuma. Evacuation was lifted around 5 p.m.
Jeffrey Gallivan of the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management said one structure was damaged, but there were no losses.
He said it was unusual for so many fires to occur in January, but dry conditions were to blame.
“It’s kind of a rare occurrence that we have teams working in the Payson forest area and then a river bottom fire in Yuma, so we’re fighting fires all over Arizona,” he said.
He said winds are affecting the ability to contain fires.
“Today is the worst day with winds of about 35 to 30 miles per hour. Last night we had several gusts over 40 miles per hour as we were trying to protect the community,” Gallivan said.
Firefighters from Yuma, Imperial County, and throughout Arizona are helping to extinguish the blaze.
“Once we tighten containment, we can start talking about getting power back up, lifting evacuations, and getting people back into their homes,” Gallivan said.
Officials said the cattle fire was caused by a human and the Yuma County Sheriff’s Department is investigating.
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