/ Modified apr 25, 2021 10:34 p.m.

Bonito Rock Fire Grows In Southeastern Arizona

The wildfire has grown by about 600 acres this weekend, and high winds and low humidity may facilitate further growth

Bonito Rock Fire The Bonito Rock Fire has been burning on the Fort Apache Reservation.
KJZZ

By Vaughan Jones, KJZZ

The Bonito Rock Fire has been burning on the Fort Apache Reservation in southeastern Arizona since April 19.

The fire is currently burning in a northeast direction, toward Bonito Creek. Incident expert Steve Johnson says firefighting crews are looking to use the creek as a barrier, and tie the fire into the fire scar from the 2020 Lofer fire.

“It's a strategic advantage to be able to try to tie in your fireline with that, because it's a fire that's already burnt. So it's kind of just like tying it into a road or tying it into a creek, it’s kind of a fire barrier, if you will,” said Johnson.

Johnson says the White Mountain Apache Tribe has areas of significance close to the fire.

“They have prime hunting areas, they have lots of Timberland active timber sales that go on there that there's a lot to help support the economy of the White Mountain Apache Tribe,” said Johnson.

Johnson says these areas, as well as heritage sites, are not in direct danger at this moment, and firefighters are working to prevent the fire from moving closer to them.

The cause of the fire is currently unknown. It has grown by about 600 acres this weekend, and high winds and low humidity may facilitate further growth.

MORE: Arizona, Fire, News
By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona