The Burro Fire in the Santa Catalina Mountains grew to 14,000 acres Monday as dry conditions and wind from thunderstorms caused it to spread, forcing the evacuation of residents and campers on Mount Lemmon.
The blaze, which was reported Friday, is zero percent contained. The cause is being investigated.
More than 185 firefighters are working the fire, but up to 600 are expected to be assigned to the No. 1 priority fire, said Bea Day, the incident commander, during a public meeting at Sahuaro High School on Monday evening.
The wind has pushed the fire in all directions, but primarily to the north and northwest, fire officials said. It is about 3½ miles from Mount Bigelow. Weather forecasts point to more hot, dry conditions.
The blaze also has been progressing south into the Redington Pass area, but officials said they were confident crews will hold it at Redington Pass Road.
Mount Lemmon and Summerhaven were under an evacuation order as of Monday morning and no one will be allowed up the mountain until the order is lifted, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. The Catalina Highway could be closed to visitors for several days. Redington Road was closed between mile markers 2 and 14.
Fire officials said monsoon rains on the horizon would be welcomed as crews are fighting the blaze using five helicopters and air tankers, hoping to limit the fire’s growth on the south. “Where the thunderstorms develop will affect the fires,” said Day, adding that crews plan to hold the fire on the northwest side of the Catalina Highway and the Control Road on the back side that leads to Oracle.
“There is no time frame for people to return home now,” Day said. “We need significant moisture on the fire before people can return home and we are sure it is not climbing up toward Summerhaven.”
The fire is fueled by tall grass and brush on steep, remote terrain, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Due to rugged and inaccessible terrain, firefighters have been using indirect tactics to fight the fire, while crews have been implementing structure protection along the Catalina (Mount Lemmon) Highway.
Leanne Mack, manager of the Mount Lemmon General Store and Gift Shop, said she and her parents evacuated their homes around 9:30 a.m. Monday.
“It’s smart that they did what they did,” Mack said of the evacuation. She said roughly 40 other full-time Summerhaven residents were evacuated.
She said she was worried the fire would jump the Mount Lemmon Highway and leave them stranded. Her vehicle couldn’t handle the other, more primitive road down the mountain.
“We’ve done this before. We did it for the Bullock Fire,” Mack said.
Authorities said the Burro Fire was burning in the area affected by the 2002 Bullock Fire that destroyed more than 30,000 acres.
The Burro Fire and the Frye Fire, which has burned more than 46,000 acres around Mount Graham, are two of five active fires in the Coronado National Forest.
