Bighorn Fire

Highlights: On Monday, July 13 at 6:00 a.m., the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 4 will transfer command of the Bighorn Fire back to the Coronado National Forest. Type 4 Incident Commander Corey Robinson will be in command of the fire and will continue building on the successful work of the previous incident management teams. 

This will be the last update provided by the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 4. Beginning Monday, the daily update will be produced by the Coronado National Forest. Contact information and websites will remain the same. 

Highlights: A forest closure remains in effect for the areas surrounding the Bighorn Fire. Residents are reminded that it is illegal to enter the forest area closure. 

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has adjusted the restrictions for the Catalina Highway. All Summerhaven, Soldier Camp, and Willow Canyon residents and employees (with proper documentation) will be allowed to return without an escort. More details are available at https://www.facebook.com/pimasheriff 

Highlights: The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has adjusted the restrictions for the Catalina Highway. All Summerhaven, Soldier Camp, and Willow Canyon residents and employees (with proper documentation) will be allowed to return without an escort. More details are available at https://www.facebook.com/pimasheriff. Residents are reminded that it is illegal to enter the forest area closure.

A virtual community meeting is being planned for tonight Thursday, July 9 at 8:00 p.m. at https://www.facebook.com/bighornfireinfo/

Redington Road remains closed. A closure order remains in place on the Coronado National Forest for the areas affected by the Bighorn Fire.

Highlights: A closure order remains in place on the Coronado National Forest for the area affected by the Bighorn Fire. Despite the increasing containment and reduced visual presence of the fire, Forest Supervisor Kerwin Dewberry reminds homeowners and recreationists that the closure is still in effect to allow for safe firefighting activities and to protect the public. 

Yesterday’s Activity: Fire remains active in the areas south and west of Willow Canyon, and aviation assets were used to cool several areas that showed increased fire activity. Due to the extremely rugged terrain in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness and the lack of safety zones, fire managers have determined that it is unsafe for firefighters to make a direct attack on the fire in this area. Efforts are ongoing to keep the fire west of the Catalina Highway as it slowly moves south toward Windy Point.

Weather: Today through Monday will be hotter than normal with slightly lower humidity and a west to northwest 10 to 15 mph breeze in the afternoon and evenings. Temperatures will be 80 to 90 degrees in the upper elevations and 101 to 106 on the valley floor. 

Yesterday’s Activity: Firefighters backhauled equipment from the Summerhaven and Willow Canyon areas. Crews mopped up in Beuhman Canyon. Chipping operations continued in the Peppersauce Canyon and along Redington Road. Patrol and mop up work were performed along the southeast fire perimeter. Equipment backhaul, fire suppression repair, and patrol were conducted on the remaining fire perimeter. Resources were available for initial attack on new fire starts. Sabino Canyon was patrolled.

Weather: Partly cloudy today with a slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Temperatures 75 to 84 in the upper elevations and 97 to 101 at the valley floor with 5 to 15 mph southwest winds.