A wildfire burning two miles southeast of Dragoon in Cochise County has grown to 10,500 acres with no containment, officials said.
The Lizard Fire merged with the Dragoon Fire Friday afternoon and a Type-1 Incident Management Team was brought in to assume command of the blaze, according to an update from the U.S. Forest Service.
Approximately 350 personnel were assigned to the fire, including dozens of engines, a hotshot crew, water tankers and a helicopter.
The blaze, which is burning tall grass and brush, was started by lightning Wednesday.
Fire crews worked through the night Friday, focusing efforts on the fire’s northeast corner where it was threatening a church campground and structures, the Forest Service said.
While fire activity typically slows during the evening and at night, because of increased relative humidity the Lizard Fire remained active, although crews have so far been successful in protecting the threatened structures.
Crews continued to focus their efforts Saturday to areas near the church camp, while additional crews worked alongside the fire in an attempt to keep it from spreading to the west, the Forest Service said.
Firefighters also ventured into the areas south of the fire around Cochise Stronghold Canyon for scouting and planning should the fire spread to the south.
Because power lines in the area were threatened, electricity was temporarily cut off to a small number of homes in the immediate area.
With gusty winds in the fire area Saturday, increased fire activity was expected, mostly to the north and east, the Forest Service said.
The American Red Cross of Southern Arizona has set up a shelter and reception area at Union Valley High School in Elfrida, 4088 E. Jefferson Road.
A community meeting is planned for 4:30 p.m. today at the Sunsites Community Center, 1216 Treasure Road.
A second fire sparked by lightning in the Coronado National Forest, the Bowie Fire, had grown to nearly 3,000 acres Saturday but was 60 percent contained, according to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.
