The Sawmill Fire burning north of Sonoita and heading toward the Mescal area was estimated at 20,000 acres and expected to grow as strong winds grounded air tankers Tuesday.
It remained at 7 percent contained Tuesday night as a multi-agency crew of 350 battled the wildfire, which a Cochise County sheriff’s spokeswoman described as 10 miles from Benson.
There were no reports of injuries and no structures had burned so far, but homes, ranches and outbuildings, communications facilities and power lines remained at risk, authorities said.
There was no anticipation of evacuations overnight Tuesday of residents in the J-6 Ranch area south of Interstate 10 and south of Mescal because firefighters had a better handle on it, said Carol Capas, a Cochise County sheriff’s spokeswoman.
The winds subsided and the fire slowed down in the rural area, Capas said. However, pre-evacuation notices remain in effect, and “several hundred families may be affected,” she said.
Law enforcement personnel notified area residents in the afternoon and advised families to have a “go bag” to include important documents, medicines, cellphones and clothing in case an evacuation order was given. They also were advised to prepare to evacuate with their pets and make accommodations for larger animals.
There were locations for families to leave their pets and animals, if needed, including shelters in Tombstone and Willcox, and other locations in Benson. Residents were opening their doors to help those in need, Capas said.
At the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Sonoita, another evacuation center, families left about 25 large animals — horses, donkeys, mules and cows, said Mike Wright, a volunteer.
“This community is doing a wonderful job because everybody is pulling together,” Wright said. “We have been overwhelmed by support,” he said, explaining the fairgrounds has 12 stalls that are open for animals, and area residents have offered room for pets and large animals, too.
However, cattle and horses on open ranges must fend for themselves, said Wright, explaining that ranchers could not round up the animals and bring them in to safety once they were given evacuation orders. “Typically, the horses and cattle know how to take care of themselves,” Wright said. It will not be known if any are killed in the fire until the blaze is out, he said.
Wright said families evacuated in the areas have found shelter with family, friends or others who have opened their homes. A post asking for prayers for the firefighters and evacuated families was shared on the Sonoita fairgrounds Facebook page.
On Monday night, the Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross opened a shelter at the fairgrounds in Sonoita and five people stayed, said Mike Sagara, a Red Cross spokesman.
On Tuesday, two people stayed and one person sought shelter at the Southeast Regional Shooting Park, 11296 S. Harrison Road, which opened earlier in the day, for residents of Hilton Ranch and surrounding areas. Sagara said 30 cots were put up at the Tucson-area shelter and there is food and water for more people if needed. Other shelters that were not affiliated with the Red Cross were also available if more evacuations occurred.
The fire started Sunday south of Green Valley near Madera Canyon and blew northeastward across the northern foothills of the Santa Rita Mountains.
It crossed Arizona 83 in two locations Monday night. That highway, which connects Interstate 10 to Sonoita, remains closed. Forest roads and trails in the area are also closed temporarily.
On Tuesday afternoon, high winds grounded the air tankers because the winds made slurry drops ineffective, said Lt. John Cambra, a fire incident commander. Three helicopters were still flying and dropping water, he said.
The fire is burning in “tall grass, riparian woodland, mesquite/oak brush, oak woodland, and pinyon-juniper fuel types,” said Heidi Schewel, a Coronado National Forest spokeswoman.
Hotshot crews from Payson, Globe, Blue Ridge and Prescott were assigned to the fire.
The fire is believed to be human-caused, but the investigation is continuing, Cambra said.
