Tucson's Bighorn Fire: Blaze in Santa Catalinas now covers nearly 75,000 acres

Smoke rolls over the Sabino Canyon area Wednesday as the Big Horn Fire grows to nearly 75,000 acres. An especially smoky day is expected over portions of Tucson and the community of Oracle.

 Bighorn Fire, Incident Command Team via Facebook

Several trails in Sabino Canyon will partially reopen on Monday, officials announced Friday.

However, the shuttle and the visitor center will remain closed. Restrooms and trash services are not available at all recreation areas.

Sabino Canyon has been closed since the massive Bighorn Fire swept across the Catalina Mountains. Lightning started the wildfire June 5 and burned about 120,000 acres by the time the Forest Service declared it fully contained on July 23.

Some areas along Catalina Highway on Mount Lemmon reopened Sept. 1.

Wildfires such as the Bighorn Fire north of Tucson leave the ground charred and unable to absorb water, which can increase flood risks. “Even a light rain can produce devastating flash floods and mudflows, often with little warning,” Pima County officials warned. In this July 2020 video, a debris flow oozes down the Cañada del Oro Wash.

"We've worked to implement emergency treatments so we can provide as many recreation opportunities to the public as possible." CJ Woodard, Santa Catalina District Ranger, said in a news release.

"Visitors should be aware that Sabino Canyon looks different after the fire ..." Woodard continued in the release. "Hazards still exist in the burn scar and the general forest, so I implore visitors to be safe, heed the signs, and be vigilant."

The order reopening parts of Sabino are expected to remain in effect until Nov. 1.

For information about activities available in the recreation area go to the Coronado National Forest website, https://www.fs.usda.gov/coronado, or call the Santa Catalina Ranger District office at (520)749-8700.

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