Arizona’s wildfire season has been delayed by winter rains, but warmer temperatures are blazing fires, especially in southern Arizona. Rain is welcome, but the state’s monsoon season may or may not help.
Two fires continue to occur due to the abundance of dry vegetation in Cochise County.
Evacuations have been suspended in Cochise County, but the Wildhorse fire near Sierra Vista and the Post fire near Benson are still raging. The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Services says it does for both. Contains only 5% As of the morning of June 23rd.
Carol Capas of the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office says to stay vigilant.
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After a fire in Cochise County, about 11 miles southwest of Benson, on June 23, 2023.
“It’s dry out there and hopefully things will improve as soon as the rains start, but in the meantime there have been multiple reports of fires in other counties close to Cochise County.
Arizona’s monsoon season officially began on June 15, but it is expected to be very dry. But rain or not, monsoons are a double-edged sword.
Tiffany Davila is with the State Forestry and Fire Service. She says Arizona’s monsoon rains determine the length of the wildfire season.
“Even if we don’t start seeing anything until mid-to-late July, until then our fire activity will remain stable. Many will transition to lightning fires,” Davila said.
Davila also said “parts of the Sonoran Desert within the southern and central regions of Arizona” are the primary location of the large fire activity.
