The McDonald Tank wildfire in eastern Arizona has grown to more than 3,500 acres in about six days.The fire started last Sunday afternoon and has almost doubled in size during the past day.Despite this growth, fire spokesman Steve Johnson is optimistic that firefighters can slow the fire from the air.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation last week warned water users to brace for a 500,000 acre-foot cut in water from the Colorado River as a historic drought continues to tighten its grip on the Southwest.
The cutback comes on top of a 200,000 acre-foot reduction Arizona water users agreed to last year to put off this day of reckoning. The Central Arizona Project provides more than a third of the stateâs water. The reductions will mostly impact farmers.
The sparse snowpack this winter soaked into the ground during the hot, dry spring â producing little runoff.
The lack of runoff has drained reservoirs across the region just when they should brim with snowmelt. Lake Powell on the Colorado River holds just a third of its capacity and giant Lake Mead holds 38% of its capacity.
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The Bonito Rock Fire on the Fort Apache Reservation in eastern Arizona burns on April 27, 2021.
Firefighters continue to battle the Bonito Rock Fire on the Fort Apache Reservation in eastern Arizona, and they received a welcome surprise Wednesday.
The fire has burned 1,800 acres. Firefighters have dug and bulldozed lines to keep the fire from spreading in this remote part of the reservation, and they got some relief when a storm dropped 3 to 6 inches of snow in the area.
Crews hope to mop up hot spots and construct additional lines moving forward.
Visitors to the White Mountains may see smoke near Whiteriver, as well as from U.S. 60 and 260.
Hundreds Are Forced to Evacuate From Western Arizona Wildfire
The Flag Fire has consumed 600 acres in the Hualapai Mountains in northwestern Arizona and prompted the evacuation of about 200 households, the authorities said.
The fire, named the Flag Fire, started on Sunday and was raging in about 600 acres of the Hualapai Mountains, a mountain range in Mohave County, in northwestern Arizona, a county spokesman said on Monday.Credit.The Bee New Media
April 26, 2021Updated 4:53 p.m. ET
A wildfire in the pine tree-covered Hualapai Mountains of northwestern Arizona, which continued to burn on Monday, has forced the evacuation of a resort, county park and hundreds of homes, the authorities said.