Payson community’s evacuation status for Bonita Fire lowered

PHOENIX — A community near Payson that had been under a “GO” evacuation order due to the nearby Bonita Fire saw its status lowered to “SET.”

Gila County Public Health and Community Services put residents from Bonita Creek on “GO” status as of 2:35 p.m. on Saturday, and the status eased by 6 p.m.

The “SET” status tells residents that significant danger is in the area and they should be prepared to leave with emergency supplies if the situation worsens.

The cause and size of the fire are both unclear.

This is an updated version of a story originally published on Feb. 7, 2026.

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