The Wildcat Fire footprint remains the same size as Friday. Fire crews continue to maintain fire suppression. Their efforts resulted in zero fire growth on Friday.
Operations: Fire crews continue to monitor the Wildcat Fire by scouting and patrolling to prevent any further spreading. The public is cautioned to be aware of their surroundings when driving through the areas active with firefighters and emergency vehicles.
Weather: Sunny with a high near 84 degrees predicted. A dry weather system entered the area Friday. Gusty southwesterly winds up to 20 miles per hour are possible this afternoon.
Closures and Restrictions: The previous closure order that was in effect for the Cave Creek Ranger District due to the Wildcat Fire has been superseded by a modified Closure Order. The order allows public access to Rio Verde Drive, Bartlett Dam Road, Needle Rock Road, North Lake Road, Horseshoe Dam Road, and Cave Creek Road/Seven Springs Road. Fire crews are still working to keep the Wildcat Fire contained. The public is cautioned to drive safely through the area. The Tonto National Forest began Emergency Stage 1 Fire Restrictions Thursday. The restrictions and closure orders are available on the Tonto National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices/?aid=87558
All Tonto National Forest District Ranger Stations and the Supervisor’s Office will be closed on May 27 in observance of Memorial Day and will resume normal office hours on May 28.
Safety: The health and safety of the public and firefighters are always our highest priority. The public is urged to sign up for the Maricopa County Emergency Notification System. To learn more about the Arizona Emergency Information Network visit: https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go.
Smoke: Wildcat Fire smoke may be visible in the surrounding areas. Individuals who are sensitive to smoke or who have medical conditions are encouraged to take precautionary measures. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.
Daily Update: This will be the last incident update provided by the Central Arizona Type III Incident Management Team. For future information, please visit the web links below:
Fire details
Location: East of the Desert Mountain Community and Tonto Hills Development; West of Bartlett Lake
Reservoir in the Cave Creek Ranger District.
Start Date: May 18, 2024
Size: Approximately 14,402 acres
Percent Contained: 84
Cause: Human-caused.
Vegetation: The fire continues to burn grass and brush.
Resources: 1 crew, 7 fire engines, and 2 water tenders.
Number of Personnel Assigned: 90
Information Links and Contacts:
Tonto National Forest https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/tonto/fire
InciWeb https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/aztnf-wildcat-fire
Fire email [email protected]
Information Phone: (480) 608-2181