About 30 homes in Cochise Stronghold were being evacuated Thursday night because of the 200-acre Dragoon Fire, said Cochise County Sheriff's officials.
"The erratic fire behavior and wind has led to this decision," said Carol Capas, a sheriff's spokeswoman, on June 8.
"There is one road in and out of the canyon, and it will become a challenge for firefighting personnel so we are using extra caution," Capas said.
A shelter is being opened at Benson High School and officials with the Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross were notified, said Capas. Β Β
The Dragoon Fire began at the same time the Lizard Fire erupted from lightning strikes on the Dragoon Mountains, Capas said.Β
The Lizard Fire, started by lightning on Wednesday, has grown to about 3,500 acres southeast of the community of Dragoon, officials said Thursday afternoon.
One home has burned in the fire.
It is burning in tall grass and brush. Fire crews, air tankers and helicopters are assigned to fight the fire. A higher level Type 1 management team has been ordered for the fire.
This fire is expected to merge with the nearby Dragoon fire, which is about 200 acres in size. Unburned areas were continuing to burn sending up columns of smoke in the area, officials said.
Residences south of Dragoon Road have already been evacuated because of the fire, according to the Cochise County Sheriff's Office.
Pre-evacuation notices have been given to homes north of Dragoon Road and in Dragoon Mountain Ranches area.
Another fire, the Saner Fire is burning in the Chiricahua Mountains northeast of Douglas and will most likely affect the Cochise Stronghold. The fire has burned about 170 acres.
Other fires burning in Southern Arizona:
Paige Creek Fire
This fire is burning on the east side of the Rincon Mountains east of Tucson. It is estimated at about 200 acres. The fire is growing at moderate speed at there are several ranches in the area. Crews are working to stop the fire's growth on its western flank. Growth of the fire on its northern flank has been stopped, lessening the danger to ranches and other structures in the area.
Frye Fire
The Frye Fire has been reported about 10 miles west/southwest of Safford in the Pinaleno Mountains. The fire is in the burn area of the 2004 Nuttall Complex Fire. Personnel are assessing fire suppression efforts because of the rugged terrain, the numerous downed timber and heavy brush that can potentially burn.
The fire has burned about 15 acres and is expected to burn toward the Frye Mesa Lake area.
Bowie Fire
The fire, about 13 miles southeast of the community of Bowie, has burned about 2,261 acres near the Fort Bowie National Historic Site. About 150 people have been assigned to the fire, which has forced the evacuation of the community of Diamond Mountain.
No structures have been lost in this fire.
Smith Fire
The fire burning near Sonoita is 90 percent contained Thursday. It has burned about 1,800 acres of grass and brush as of Wednesday night. Crews have stopped the fire's forward progress and will monitor the blaze overnight.
The National Weather Service in Tucson said scattered thunderstorms are forming across Cochise County now and will continue for the rest of the day. The storms could bring wind gusts of greater than 40 mph, the NWS said. Rain is expected to be in the .25 to .50 of an inch range.
Storms that swept across Cochise County on Wednesday were responsible for starting several wildfires.
