San Carlos Apache Tribe Declares Emergency as Watch Fire Intensifies

The San Carlos Apache Tribe has declared an emergency following the rapid advancement of the Watch Fire, which scorched 1,115 acres on Thursday. The blaze destroyed 13 homes and forced over 400 individuals to evacuate.

Authorities are investigating the fire’s cause, with arson being suspected. Tribe Chairman Terry Rambler shared the community’s distress, noting the unprecedented impact. “Multiple families lost homes. It was horrible all the way around. I have received reports of families leaving with nothing, elders having no transportation, kids running with no shoes. We have never experienced anything like this,” Rambler said.

The fire ignited late Wednesday night and spread to the San Carlos Riverbed, roughly 85 miles northeast of Tucson. High winds fueled the fire’s rapid spread. Despite efforts by air tankers to contain it, firefighting was complicated by adverse weather conditions. The wind forced grounding of air operations on Thursday afternoon.

Home to around 10,250 people, the San Carlos Reservation saw significant displacement, with 75 individuals reported homeless on Friday. Local firefighters worked overnight to establish fire lines, employing controlled burns along the fire’s east flank. However, power lines were damaged, causing outages and heavy smoke in San Carlos and Peridot. The fire remains 0% contained.

Described as the most serious structural fire on the Reservation in three decades, there have been no injuries or fatalities reported. Evacuation shelters have been established at the San Carlos High School and Apache Gold Casino. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs announced up to $400,000 in aid from the state’s Joint Heat Relief Initiative. “Fire season in Arizona can have deadly consequences for communities across our state,” said Hobbs, expressing condolences and gratitude to first responders.

Hobbs urged federal officials to declare the fire a major disaster, facilitating additional aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The state’s Department of Emergency and Military Affairs will manage the funds, supporting local emergency response and recovery. The State Emergency Operations Center is currently coordinating efforts at Level 2. The Department of Forestry and Fire Management is assisting with suppression efforts.

Rambler expressed appreciation for the assistance received, emphasizing the collaboration from various entities including Graham County, Gila County, and neighboring tribal communities. On Friday, hot and dry conditions were expected to persist, compounded by the potential for high winds due to thunderstorms. Fire officials have urged the public to avoid the area to ensure the safety of firefighting personnel and the community.