x
Breaking News
More () »

Human-caused wildfires in Arizona have already burned over 68,000 acres in 2018

The human-caused Rattlesnake Fire has burned over 26,000 acres while the Tinder Fire, started by an abandoned illegal campfire, has burned more than 16,000.

Tuesday marked seven years to the day that the largest wildfire in Arizona history, the Wallow Fire, ignited. It would go on in 2011 to burn more than 538,000 acres.

That fire was human-caused, which has been the case for a majority of the Arizona wildfires that have already burned thousands of acres in 2018.

Data from the Southwest Coordination Center, as of Tuesday, shows 724 human-caused fires have burned 68,762 acres this year.

The Tinder Fire, which was started by an abandoned illegal campfire in late April, burned over 16,000 acres while the human-caused Rattlesnake Fire has burned over 26,000 acres. Those fires are over 90 percent contained.

The Sycamore Fire, another human-caused fire which started on Memorial Day, is burning northwest of Sedona. That fire has grown to 230 acres.

Those numbers are compared to the six lightning-caused fires which have charred just three acres, according to the SWCC data.

PHOTOS: Tinder Fire

The dry and windy weather this week isn't helping. A red flag warning is in effect Thursday for most of northern Arizona.

The National Weather Service says those conditions will create dangerous fire weather.

Areas in the Coconino, Kaibab, Tonto, Prescott and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests remain closed with fire restrictions in place.

Before You Leave, Check This Out