A wildfire southwest of Tucson has grown to 15,000 acres by Tuesday and is expected to keep growing because of inaccessible terrain, officials said.
The human-caused Brown Fire is burning in the Baboquivari Mountains about 18 miles north of Sasabe. It is about 30 percent contained.
Burnout operations have contributed to the fireβs size. Crews have completed a fire line north of Delicias Ranch on Monday and today are working on fire lines to protect Elkhorn Ranch and slow the fire's progress on the northwest flank.
Firefighters conduct burnout operations in the Baboquivari Mountains.
The fire is burning in tall grass and chaparral on state, Tohono Oβodham, BLM, private and Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge lands.
About 230 people are assigned to the fire. Ground crews are being assisted by five helicopters and two single-engine air tankers.
Crews are working to protect structures in Brown and Thomas canyons and area ranches. One uninhabited structure and one outbuilding were burned when the fire began Friday.
The fire will continue to spread north, west and east due to inaccessible terrain. Crews are using Thomas Canyon Road to help halt the fireβs spread to the south.
