Wildfire Near Patagonia Rapidly Expands to 900 Acres in Just Hours

Southern Arizona is facing a critical fire season, with a new wildfire igniting Wednesday morning near the U.S.-Mexico border. The blaze, named the Ranch Fire, has already scorched nearly 900 acres about 20 miles south of Patagonia, Arizona. Initial reports from Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management indicated it had burned at least 30 acres by 11:40 a.m., but estimates quickly rose to 889 acres later in the day.

Fire officials noted that while the blaze’s behavior had “moderated slightly,” its left flank remained “still fairly active.” Fortunately, a recent rainstorm, which delivered nearly an inch of rainfall to Patagonia, may have helped contain the fire, mitigating its effects after an unusually dry season.

A large air tanker, designed to drop hundreds of gallons of water or fire retardant, along with two additional large air tankers, has been deployed to fight the flames. Ground crews are also actively digging fire lines with hand tools and utilizing firefighting trucks. As the situation continues to develop, more resources are being directed to the area south of Tucson.

Residents in the neighboring community of Mowry, particularly at the intersection of Hershaw and Apache roads, are being advised to prepare for possible evacuations. Southern Arizona has experienced over four dozen fires this year, fueled by an extended dry spell, as tracked by the Tucson Interagency Dispatch Center, covering multiple national and state lands.

Past fires, such as the Greer Fire that consumed over 20,000 acres in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, forced evacuations across nearby towns. Similarly, the Cody Fire, which ignited on May 21, burned 1,223 acres just southeast of Oracle.

Pima County officials announced that the Tucson metro area and Santa Catalina Mountains are currently in severe drought conditions. Other parts of the county, including Green Valley and Ajo, face even more severe drought levels, according to a joint analysis from several federal agencies.

To combat these escalating fire risks, Pima County has introduced new restrictions effective this week, limiting the use of campfires and prohibiting smoking and target shooting on county, state, and federal lands. The Pima County Board of Supervisors unanimously declared a fire emergency in unincorporated areas, extending similar restrictions already in place on federally managed lands.

Sandra Espinoza, director of the Pima County Office of Emergency Management, emphasized the urgency in protecting communities and natural landscapes. “The danger that Southeastern Arizona is currently facing, compounded by current and forecasted weather, has us primed for potential wildfires that could impact lives and safety,” she stated.

As fire activity is expected to peak with rising temperatures and dry conditions, Tiffany Davila from the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management noted the increasing wildfire activity on public lands. New stage 2 restrictions have recently been applied across several Arizona counties, including Gila and Yuma.

The updated rules state: no open flames, including campfires or charcoal grills, are permitted. Firearm use, aside from lawfully hunting or at established shooting ranges, is also banned. Additionally, any spark-generating activities such as welding are not allowed unless absolutely necessary and conducted with precautions.

Violation of these restrictions can result in fines and imprisonment, with offenders potentially held accountable for fire suppression costs. Pima County officials are urging compliance to protect both the environment and the public’s safety during this crucial fire season.